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-   -   FLORIDA TO BAHAMAS KITEBOARDING RACE - What it's about! (http://www.fksa.org/showthread.php?t=542)

ricki 05-22-2005 08:21 PM

FLORIDA TO BAHAMAS KITEBOARDING RACE - What it's about!
 
X-RATED BAHAMA KITE RACE 2005
November 28th to Dec 12th


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album68/clip_image002.jpg

Hutchinson Enterprises and X-ratedkiteboarding is proud to present the first ever long distance kiteboarding race, from the US to the Bahamas. This is the first of its kind, setting it apart from the usual repetitive format of freestyle jumps and tricks. There will be a maximum of 50 athletes permitted to enter the event all of which will be starting together and racing to Bimini in the Bahamas. This format will make for very unique and exciting footage for magazines, video and television while making history in the worlds fastest growing sport. Dozens of kiteboarders racing forward as athletes surf into another country, through the Bermuda Triangle and across the blue waters of one of the largest currents in the world. This is sure to set the event apart from other more routine water sports events.

The distance between Ft. Lauderdale Inlet and the island of Bimini’s inlet is 49 nautical miles. This distance is approximately half the distance of the world distance record set in 2001 from Florida to Cuba.

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album68/clip_image004_1.jpg

There will be three possible starting locations ranging from Boca Raton to Miami. The event start location will be selected to allow kiteboarders to travel on a broad reach heading, cross downwind. The final start location will be decided the day before the event and will be communicated to all athletes, sponsors and media via e-mail and telephone.

The race will be run on the first day of conducive wind to complete the crossing. There will be a completion celebration on the island of Bimini followed by a closing and awards ceremony upon our return to the US.


Rules


1. Two riders per team - Must have medical insurance. Riders can ride whatever kite/board brand they choose and do not have to necessarily ride for the same company. Each team can be male, female or both.

2. One rescue boat per team – Each boat must be open ocean capable and be able to handle rough conditions with wave heights potentially in the order of +/- 15 feet. Must have onboard a vhf radio, eperb, fist aid kits etc. Spare fuel for the boat to cover an extra minimum of 50 miles. Lights, Sea anchors and various other safety devices.

3. All boats must be properly registered, insured and meet all coast guard regulations.

4. All riders and boats will start at the same time from the designated starting area, and the finishing point will be at the same place (Bimini inlet) for all teams.

5. The team will not be registered as finished until all three parties reach the finishing point.

6. No rider can use their boat for a resting place at anytime without being disqualified.

7. Boats can supply their team with fluids and food at any time.

8.Teams can change equipment during the race with the help of their own boats.

9. All team members must be within visible distance of one another.

10. The team boat should stay within 500 ft. or less of both team riders.

If you and a partner are interested in entering this competition please contact me directly with a resume of your history of kiteboarding including your level of riding, contest results, kiteboarding accomplishments, age, location, access to a chase boat, sponsors and all contact information. There are limited spaces available and riders will be awarded places within the event on a persons riding level firstly and secondly on a “first come, first served basis.” Also, the more info you can supply about you and yourself and your team the better, as I will be writing periodic press releases and am at present looking for additional sponsors. The greater the sponsorship the greater the $ prizes!

All registered competitors will be added to the e-mail list and will be personally informed of all updates of the event and during the dates outlined above for a full daily weather report and possible departure dates and location.

We are also actively searching for additional sponsors. If you have any contacts within or out of the industry that might be able to help this event please let us know.

This event will be featured by national and international magazines, production videos, local television and newspaper articles. We are presently approaching television companies to possibly produce a documentary of the event. We are also in the process of contacting the Bahamas Board 0f Tourism for sponsorship offering them footage to be displayed round the world.

For more information on this event and regarding sponsorship please go to www.xratedkiteboarding.com or contact Neil Hutchinson at:

954-647-7228
Or
nhukusa@aol.com

ricki 05-23-2005 06:23 PM

This just in from another forum, skypilot.com

Quote:

On 2005-05-23 17:55, skypilot wrote:
Hey Rick,

I think I might come down for that! Are there opportunities to ride on safety boats so I can take photos and record the race for the Skypilot crew?

Let me know - p.s the harness arrived - thanks!

Dan


Hello Dan,

It is still early. It sort of went from concept to incipient plan in the last two weeks or so as Neil is healing from his leg injury. I imagine there will be quite a few boats, one for each team and then one for sponsors and interested parties. Still spaces may be limited and putting something like this on is going to cost some money. It should be well worth it.

Here's an idea, Neil tells me that Toby of kiteforum is thinking over putting together a kiteforum team, some guys on the central east coast of the USA are doing the same, etc. Why not put together at Skypilot, NW USA/SW Canadian team? I am thinking about putting together an FKA team just to be able to go and perhaps cross by kite.

I suggested this over five years ago when they thought the idea was nuts. Things have changed and it should be interesting!

This is an unique opportunity for participants and sponsors alike. I have been crossing the Straits to the Bahamas for a long time since highschool. It has always been something to look forward to. The seas may cook off this time with the seasonal winds blowing into the Florida Current, better to be on a board! It should be memorable.

ricki 05-24-2005 06:51 AM

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album108/Straits_1.sized.jpg

A look across the Straits.

surferjd 06-07-2005 09:19 AM

I would love to do this but I am not that experienced yet...

FYI Gulfstream flows north at about 2-3kts. There fore, Miami would be the best takeoff spot :D

ricki 06-07-2005 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surferjd
I would love to do this but I am not that experienced yet...

FYI Gulfstream flows north at about 2-3kts. There fore, Miami would be the best takeoff spot :D

I mentioned that to Neil, some guys are going to have to do the course plotting allowing for the set of the current and leeway with a Northeast wind to select the launching point.

Let's say the crossing takes 4 hours, that will result in about 12 nm of drift north. Neil is planning on something close to a beam reach, which for wind out of the NE or say 45 degrees True, will mean a course of about 225 degrees. That is a bit too far south and I suspect will make the crossing quite a bit longer than 4 hours. So, they'll have to ride closer hauled than that with a NE wind.

Christoph Ribot miamikiteboarding.com did an unusual crossing of his own via catamaran documented at:

http://www.miamicatamarans.com/events.htm

He also navigated one of the boats during the Key West to Cuba world record kiteboarding crossing. I wonder what Christophe would advise?

onepimpinsummer 06-07-2005 04:53 PM

sounds like a great race. I might have to bring the boat up from Key West and follow along. I would think any rider that is accepted into the race is probably good enough to keep upwind and going in the right direction so they aren't swept out into the open atlantic by the gulfstream though right? 40 or 50 miles to Bimini isn't too bad of a hike if the wind is fairly decent, but then again, if you are in the gulfstream, you should probably be worried, because you have missed the Bahamas by hundreds of miles :wink: lol but good news is if you head west you may end up in hatteras :lol: (gulfstream starts near NC, florida current is between florida and the bahamas). Good thing my girlfriend is not racing. She'd end up in New Jersey! :wink:

PS: keep in touch closer to the race. might have extra room on the boat if anybody wants to watch the race

ricki 08-09-2005 03:59 PM

Folks are doing distance runs. There were two recently over in Europe of 107 miles in fairly adverse conditions crossing from England to Holland:

Today, august 8 2005, 2 Dutch kiteboarders have attempted to cross the Englisch channel by kite. Stef de Jong and Gerhard van Geest started of at Lowestoft, England at about 10 am (Dutch time) for the 107 miles trip to Zandvoort, Holland.
Half way, Gerhard had problems with his gear and unfortunately the sea was too rough to give him a new kite,so he had to give up.
Stef continued on his own and at 6 pm he finally stepped ashore at Zandvoort.

This is a new world record for long distance kiting. Bad luck for Gerhard, but:
Congratulations Stef!

There will be more info on Stef's website soon I think: www.kitesite.nl (Dutch)

from: http://www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2318761

and

154 km in Holland, more at:

http://www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2318751

I understand there is to be an attempted crossing from Cornwall to Ireland soon as well.

Whip out that distance gear and get practicing.

ricki 11-13-2005 01:35 PM

Here is an update from Neil on the race:

Just an update on the Bahamas Kite Race, if you have not seen or heard about it yet check out www.bahamacrossing.com. The event is on we have numerous teams singed up from all over the US and the world.
It will be taking place anytime between the 28th of November and the 12th of December.
There will be an opening party at the Treasure Trove bar on Ft. Lauderdale beach on the night of the 28th starting at 7pm and will be showing Kiteboarding movies, including uncut and unseen footage from this years Red Bull, King Of The Air competition in Maui.
Everyone is invited to come and join us in Bimini for the arrival party and awards ceromoney of the race, followed by a couple of days of fun riding in the Bahamas.
As there is not a set departure date for the event, if you would like to join us and be kept informed of the exact day of us leaving Florida please e-mail me directly at nhukusa@aol.com and I will put you on the e-mail list, you will be given a five day warning of a possible start date, then a three day warning and finally a 24hr notice that it will be definitely going ahead on that date.
You can fly to Bimini, Bahamas on Chalk's Airlines from either Ft. Lauderdale or Miami on a seaplane for approximatly $250 but pack light as the planes are small. We will be staying on North Bimini at the Complete Angler Hotel, Bimini Blue Water and the Sea Crest Hotel.
Hope you can make this historic event. If you have any questions or want to get on the e-mail list just either shoot me an e-mail or call me at 954-647-7228. Cheers Neil

mocean 11-14-2005 03:01 PM

feel the burn
 
I did a five mile down winder the other day through some gnarley water with a friend of mine who said he would be dumb enough to do that race.
after the down winder we both looked at eachother and said F@cK that.
we road from green cay off from rose island (just a bit away from paradise island) to the for shore on Nassau fort montague.
there are tones of little cays and stuff in that area and when the tide is going in or out there is some nastey little waves short chop.
anyway I recon that is a good place to train for the race.
anyways good luck to you crazy bastards who have enterd the race.
may your ACL's live long.
aj

ricki 11-14-2005 07:08 PM

THE FLORIDA TO BAHAMAS KITEBOARD RACE
(click to go to the website)

Neil Hutchinson of XRATED KITEBOARDING and Key West to Cuba Crossing fame has worked hard to bring a unique kiteboarding event to the world. It is the first ever kiteboarding race from Florida to the Bahamas across the Straits of Florida.

http://www.bahamacrossing.com/images/welcome.jpg
Neil near the finish.

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album145/..._1_s.sized.jpg
From the USA across the fast running Florida Current into a different country and outstanding place to ride and hang out, The Biminis.
CLICK FOR FULL SIZED IMAGE


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album145/60_G.sized.jpg
It's all about riding.

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album145/56_G.sized.jpg
For flying over or back, Neil has gotten in touch with Chalks Airlines, fly the legend!

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album145/...rial.sized.jpg

Neil has lined up some accomodations in Alicetown on North Bimini including:

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album145/61_G.sized.jpg
The Complete Angler Bar and Hotel (Hemingway would have really fit in here)

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album145/62_G.sized.jpg
The Complete Angler bar is a classic with great drinks, conch fritters and island music at night.

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album145/63_G.sized.jpg
The Bluewater Resort and Marina sandwiched between Kings and Queens Highway in Alicetown.

http://www.seacrestbimini.com/seacrestaerialnew.jpg
The Seacrest Resort and Marina

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album145/Biminitr.sized.jpg

Get in touch with Neil for contact info at the hotels at <Nhukusa@aol.com> or 954-647-7228.


The launch area in Florida is still under consideration along with predicted wind conditions at the time of the Crossing and could range from

Ft. Lauderdale ...
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album145/kblaud3.sized.jpg
Photo from kitesurfusa.com

to Miami ...
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album145/a1_s_sized.jpg

a wild and memorable ride across the Straits of Florida is anticipated ending on North Bimini Beach below Kings Highway

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album145/...18_s.sized.jpg
The Beach at the far side of the Crossing.
CLICK FOR FULL SIZED IMAGE


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album145/...hore.sized.jpg
The Northshore (of Bimini).

Once you're on Bimini, go nuts or just hang out. It's good for that and a great deal more.

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album145/..._001.sized.jpg
Downtown.
CLICK FOR FULL SIZED IMAGE


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album145/...ving.sized.jpg

http://www.csicop.org/si/2004-01/Shinn-fig.2.jpg
You could stroll uh swim down the roads of Atlantis. (they look like innundated natural beach rock formations to me but shhhh don't let on! more here).

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album145/58_G.sized.jpg
The water is often very clear.

http://www.frogmandivers.com/Sapona.jpg
The Sapona ferrocement wreck aka former Prohibition speakeasy/casino aka WWII strafing/bombing target is always worth a visit.

http://www.antiquefishingreels.com/p...g/MVC-005L.JPG
You could pickup a big billfish, torment the hell out of it and smoke it or something. Say hi to Ernest.

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album145/57_G.sized.jpg

For lots more information be sure to checkout the event website here

Hope to see you there, it should be quite a ride!


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