Honeymoon Island Kite Surfing

[Tony]

Paul wanted me to post this for him. He is not trying to be a "Beach Nazi" but he does bring up good points. I am guilty as charged and want to keep this spot -it is my favorite. Craig was just talked to a week or so ago by the Ranger. He told him it was not winter any more and we need to ride out far from shore bc of all the beach goers.

From Paul"

Honeymoon Island Kite Surfing

This is a note to everyone about kite surfing on Honeymoon Island.

Kite surfing on Honeymoon is a privilege, not a right, granted by the Park Rangers.

We are to kite surf no closer that 150 yards, from the beach.
This is one and a half football fields.
Honeymoon Island is a “bird sanctuary” and all “powered” craft must observer these rules.
Yes, windsurfers and kiteboards are considered “powered” craft.

They have made an exception (Thanks to Craig) for kite boarders and Windsurfers.
The current rules is, we are to launch to the north of “dog beach” area, and to the south of the swimming areas.
We get a small strip where we are supposed to launch. Once we are launched, the 150 yard rule applies.
During the winter months when it is cold and windy and no one is one the beach, the Park Rangers don’t really police the above.

Thursday was a wonderful warm and breezy day for kite boarding on Honeymoon.
It was also a crowded tourist day on Honeymoon.
There were several kite boarders that were jumping within 10 yards of the beach.
There were kite boarders riding in the swim zones.

All it would take would be one “accident” and we would lose the privilege of kite boarding on Honeymoon Island.
Some tourist gets hit by a kite, or gets “scared” by a kite and WE ALL LOSE.

It is not worth it. Take your jumps and transitions outside the 150 yard limit.
Take your wave riding over to the south side of the pass.
Use your common sense. One errant kite by one “hero” kite boarder, and we will ALL GET BANNED by the Park Rangers.

We have to “police” ourselves. You see someone about to get your privilege taken away, go up to him/her and ask them to please abide by the rules.
Maybe they don’t know about the “rules”.

Gabe, Doug, Craig and Chad, you guys are looked up to. Set a good example. Police the area. Do your best to keep something bad from happening to our privilege
to ride one of the best spots in the Tampa Bay area.

What other spot has : showers, bathrooms and a kite boarder Bar & Grill ??????

Respectfully,


Paul A. Polgar
2390 Rajel Ave.
Safety Harbor, Fl., 34695
727-726-7712 (home)
727-441-8789 (work)
727-642-4693 (cell)