FKA Kiteboarding Forums  

Go Back   FKA Kiteboarding Forums > MAIN FORUM > Something Rich And Strange ... Diving Tales From The Water Underworld
Connect with Facebook

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-29-2010, 11:17 AM
ricki's Avatar
ricki ricki is offline
Administrator
Site Admin
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Florida
Posts: 8,700
Default NEXT Dive Scooter Race - Wes Skiles Memorial Shootout of Key Largo


(photo by John Moran/JohnMoranPhoto.com)

The 3rd stop on the 2010 Formula H2O racing circuit is the Wes Skiles Memorial Shootout of Key Largo from October 1 -3, 2010.

Formula H2O will honor world famous underwater photographer and scuba diving innovator Wes Skiles. Skiles captured hundreds of breath taking images and motion pictures of an underwater world experienced by only a few men and women. More about Wes' life and accomplishments at: http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=9824 and http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=9822&highlight=skiles


From: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/20...todhunter-text


Formula H2O will honor world famous underwater photographer and scuba diving innovator Wes Skiles. Skiles captured hundreds of breath taking images and motion pictures of an underwater world experienced by only a few men and women.

The Wes Skiles Memorial Shootout is hosted by Wes’s good friend Spencer Slate, owner of Atlantis Dive Center of Key Largo. Slate is the leading scuba diving scuba and snorkel charter operator in Florida and was one the central figures of the sinking of the Spiegel Grove as an artificial reef in Key Largo in 2002. Slate is also well known for his unique critter feeds in which he interacts with all sizes and species of marine life.

Registration Deadline is Friday September 24 at 6 PM.

Formula H2O Headquarters: Marina Del Mar Key Largo Call: 305-451-4107 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 305-451-4107 end_of_the_skype_highlighting for reservations

Discount Code: Wreck Racing League (Hotel Discount Offer Expires: 9/24 at 6 PM)

Marina Del Mar
527 Caribbean Drive, Key Largo, Florida 33037
Phone: 305-451-4107 Fax: 305-451-1891
https://www.marinadelmarkeylargo.com/

Here is a preliminary schedule of events for planning purposes:

Friday October 1, 2010

7 PM Race Meeting (Racers, Spectators, Photographers and Boat Captains) – Location: Marina Del Mar Key Largo

Saturday October 2, 2010

9 AM DPV/Scooter Demo Event – Location: Marina Del Mar Key Largo

1 PM Race Practice and Course Setup – Boat Departure Atlantis Dive Center

7 PM Formula H20 Evening Event – Featured Speakers, Environmental Awareness, Photography Exhibition and Demonstration – Location: Marina Del Mar Key Largo (Land Based)

Sunday October 3, 2010 – Race Day

8 AM Wes Skiles Memorial Shootout Race – Boat Departure Atlantis Dive Center

2 PM Awards Ceremony and Photo and Video Swap – Atlantis Dive Center
More info at:
http://wreckracingleague.com/?page_id=1311


__________________
FKA, Inc.

transcribed by:
Rick Iossi

Last edited by ricki; 03-27-2019 at 09:06 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-24-2010, 10:26 AM
ricki's Avatar
ricki ricki is offline
Administrator
Site Admin
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Florida
Posts: 8,700
Default

The third race in the series is coming up fast, just a week away and on a great wreck, the Benwood off Key Largo. The water is shallower this time around 25 to 45 ft.. I understand a writer from the Miami Herald will be racing to prepare an article about the experience. If you have a scooter or access to one, there will be lots of different racing classes again, so come on down. Spectator divers are welcome too. Should be a blast!!!
__________________
FKA, Inc.

transcribed by:
Rick Iossi
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-30-2010, 09:43 PM
ricki's Avatar
ricki ricki is offline
Administrator
Site Admin
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Florida
Posts: 8,700
Default


HMS Benwood in better days
http://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?140786

Chart:
http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/sanctuar...l/benwood.html

This is what our sponsor, Capt. Slate's Atlantis Dive Center website has to say about it:

"Wreck of the Benwood
Depth: 20-50 feet
Ship Length: 285 feet
Skill Level: Open Water

The remains of the Benwood are scattered over a wide area. The bow of the ship is the most intact feature, forming a 25-foot profile in the water column. The hull structure is mostly intact up to the level of the first deck. Large steel knees join the deck plate to the outer hull and sides of the vessel. These knees are massive reinforced triangles of steel which outline the ship’s hull shape despite the loss of the hull plates themselves.
The first deck has been punctured in many places, forming a network of “nooks and crannies” perfect for fish habitat. Divers can peer through these holes into the cargo hold and see the space where ore was once carried."
http://www.captainslate.com/dive_sites.html


Some historical background on the Benwood:

"The Norwegian merchant freighter Benwood (360'x51') was under the command of Captain Torbjorn Skjelbred on the fateful night of April 9, 1942. She was on a routine voyage from Tampa Bay, Florida to Norfolk, Virginia carrying a load of phosphate rock. That same evening, the Robert C. Tuttle(544'x70') was traveling to Atreco, Texas, under the command of Captain Martin Johansen. Rumors of German U-boats in the area forced the two ships to travel completely blacked out, each keeping the Florida coastal lights three miles abeam(Benwood)and one and a half miles abeam(Robert C. Tuttle). It is reported that at 12:45 a.m. the Robert C. Tuttle sighted a black object ahead of the ship and turned starboard after signaling "I intend to turn starboard." with one blow of the ship's whistle. There was no response. At 12:50 a.m., the Benwood reported to have sighted a black object off her starboard. She sounded the ship's whistle twice indicating, "I intend to turn port." There was no response. It is believed that the two ships were now unwittingly on a collision course with each other. Just before the collision, Captain Skjelbred made last-minute efforts to avoid the Robert C. Tuttle by ordering the engine full astern (fastest reverse). Moments later,the bow of the Benwood punched into the Robert C. Tuttle just aft of the port side bow, above the waterline. This caused the bow of the Benwood collapsed upon itself. The Benwood began taking on water at a brisk rate. Captain Skjelbred turned hard for shore, attempting to save the ship by grounding, but some time between 1:10 and 2:00 a.m. was forced to abandon ship. The Benwood came to rest stern-to on a sandy slope in approximately 25 feet (7.6 m) to 45 feet (14 m) of water between Dixie Shoals (to the north) and French Reef (to the south) off of Key Largo, Florida

On April 10, 1942, the crew of the salvage tug Willet examined the wreck and determined that the keel of the Benwood was broken, and she was a total loss. However, her superstructure and cargo of phosphate rock appear to have been salvaged. Her stern section, once considered a hazard to navigation, seems to have been mostly obliterated by explosions of an unknown type. This salvaging on the ship over the years prompted John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park to form a protection program in 1959 to prevent further damage to the historical wreckage. Today, the Benwood is a protected resource under the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which was formed in 1975. Since then, the Benwood site has played host to countless recreational dives, as it is an extremely popular night dive site. Since her sinking, the Benwood has become an impressive artificial reef, providing the only high profile reef in the immediate vicinity. She lies in 55 feet of sea water with hull plates found in the sand around the perimeter."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benwood_(shipwreck)
__________________
FKA, Inc.

transcribed by:
Rick Iossi

Last edited by ricki; 09-30-2010 at 10:37 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-09-2010, 12:39 PM
consemated consemated is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 1
Default race car driving

re: race school

Quote:
Mario Andretti Racing Experience
I have been thinking about trying out the School Of Racing . Has any one hear had the opportunity to try it out?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-09-2010, 01:21 PM
ricki's Avatar
ricki ricki is offline
Administrator
Site Admin
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Florida
Posts: 8,700
Default

You seem to be a spambot and despite increased screening. Care to offer confirmation that you're not in lieu of being deleted?
__________________
FKA, Inc.

transcribed by:
Rick Iossi
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:30 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

Do not advertise outside of [COM] Forums.
Do not show disrespect for others in your postings.
Users can be denied access to this Site without warning.
FKA, Inc., it’s officers and moderators are not responsible
for the content of the postings and any links or pictures posted.

Report Problems by PM to “administrator” or via email to flkitesurfer@hotmail.com

Copyright FKA, Inc. 2004, All Rights Reserved.