The 2009 Tampa Bay Kite Masters ("The Rayley Grace Kite Race") is on!!!
Kickoff Party is at Watersport West on Feb 28th at 6:00 pm. The official start day of the race is on March 1st, wind permitting.
The Tampa Bay Kite Masters and Watersports West have planned to do a charity race. Julie and Jayson Orkins delivered Rayley Grace Orkins at 4 months premature and weighing in just over one pound at birth. It is a miracle that Rayley Grace Orkins is still with us after all that she endured from getting pneumonia and almost losing her a few times, but due to the efforts of the Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) staff at All Children’s Hospital she is still with us today. After reading this article in the St. Pete Times, (
http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/article944606.ece) we see that they could really use some help. That’s why we will donate all proceeds to the All Children’s Hospital as a thank you for saving Rayley. The winner of the Tampa Bay Kite Masters will be assisting us in presenting the check to All Children’s Hospital.
We will be holding the race this year in any wind direction so it might be a Gulf run from Sand Key to Caddy's or a Bay run from Gandy to the Skyway. This run could also happen in reverse since we are fortunate that we can ride on any wind direction. We are looking for at least 15 mph wind speed to hold the event; this is why it could happen on March 1st the day after the pre party.
The entry fee can be made via paypal from the tbkm.org website. The entry fee is $25.00 and for any donation above the entry fee will be recognized.
More details to come on Monday on
http://www.tbkm.org, the official Tampa Bay Kite Masters website.
Thanks,
Jayson Orkins and Chris Moore