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Brett from Tobago and I ran out to Alligator Lighthouse about 4 1/3 miles off the Moorings in Islamorada. We were using new, as of yet unreleased 2012 Cabrinha gear being offered for demo at the Pryde Group Dealer meeting underway at the Moorings. I had mounted a GoPro on the kite and was also wearing one on my helmet. There is an article coming out in Kiteboarding Magazine on the camera-kite setup and other considerations for using GoPro while kiting. GoPro recently picked this shot as "Photo of the Day," so why not put it up here as well? I have a couple of dozen Lighthouse shots, many more actually but this one does pick up the water colors and lighting well.

There is some history in this shot. Alligator Lighthouse was constructed here in 1873 over 50 years after its namesake struck here. There are six lighthouses along the Florida Reef Tract bordering the Florida Keys miles offsho...re constructed from 1822 on. The Florida Current, often mistakenly identified as the Gulfstream in this area, rips north at a good clip. Southbound shipping would run as close to shore as feasible to avoid maximum current in deeper water offshore. The bottom shoals rapidly from deep water to the reef tract which can be exposed in areas at low tide. Between frequent summer and cold front squalls and tropical storms, numerous vessels blown on to the reef over the centuries. Salvors working out of nearby Key West at one time made it the richest city in the USA. The lighthouses were constructed as an aid to navigation and to try to reduce loss. More about the lighthouses at: http://www.reeflights.org/history_of...eef_lights.htm

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The USS Alligator
http://www.keyshistory.org

The schooner of war, USS Alligator had some interesting times too. It was commissioned by President Monroe in 1820 to suppress the slave trade in Western Africa. It was the shifted to suppression of piracy in the Straits of Florida and nort...hern Caribbean in 1822. Pirates were running rife plaguing shipping in the area at the time. The ship fought a successful action off Matanzas, Cuba but its Captain was killed in the exchange. The ship then sailed in convoy from Cuba bound for Norfolk, Virginia. The 83 ft. schooner had a whopping draft of 11 ft. with the waters of the reef tract in the area being 5 ft. or less. The ship struck the reef in the night in 1822 and was kedged to attempt to haul her off in the morning. The line parted and she blew further on to the reef. Despite shifting weight overboard and to a Bahamian salvor the vessel floundered hard aground. The men were shifted to another naval brig and the vessel torched to avoid salvage by pirates. Powder stores detonated and the vessel exploded. You can dive the remains today.
More at: http://www.keyshistory.org/USS-Alligator.html


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Alligator Lighthouse in 1873.
http://www.reeflights.org/images.htm

Rick,

That water looks extremely calm for being able to kite all the way out there. What size kite/board combo were you on? I went out there once, one long thigh burning tack. The seas that day were much more rough!

It was fairly calm unlike some other times I headed out there. The photo is of the shallow area around the light though. In deeper areas inshore it did bump up a bit. Still I was on a 12 m and didn't have to sine that much. I was on the largest demo tt I could find on the beach before deciding spur of the moment to head out, a 140 cm I think. I yelled at Brett on an inbound tack as I was riding out to see if he wanted to go, it was casual! We did have to tack upwind a few times nearshore returning. I usually take the largest board I have out to the lighthouse to improve performance in the lulls and going upwind in fewer tacks. I normally start about six mile further north making returning a tack fest at times. One time the wind eased and was already from a poor direction. I ended up covering about 38 miles making about 350 ft. to 500 ft. upwind for each half mile tack. It went on forever!

"Riding the Blue" Sherman Island - kiter is Shawn Richman
 

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He kited way into the night by himself under this big moon that was rising, good night and good winds. http://www.kitesmurf.com/

Nice shot, excellent conditions!

Rum Cay is calling ...

Going through about 60 G of images now from the 2012 Pryde Group Americas Dealer Meeting in Islamorada, FL. I am working on the first article now. Here are a few early ones from the lot ...

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Matt Collins ripping on the new Transport directional kiteboard. I really like this raceboard and plan to get one once available. The Moorings resort in the background was our event site, a magnificent one at that too!

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The small cottage at the Moorings serving as housing for some of the meeting participants.

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The opening party at a favorite sunset spot on the water for many years, Morada Bay in Islamorada.

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The gang at the 2012 Pryde Group Americas Dealer Meeting in Islamorada, FL.

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Paula taking an idea from the movie "Strange Brew" tries to put a snake in a beer bottle. Why? To get more beer of course! Actually she likes snakes and was communing with this temporarily lost "squirm" as he wriggled through the grass.

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Brett flies under me at the lighthouse.

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Lots more to come!

.

Chasing Damo over the flats while trying to catch him on small trick skies. He was FAST!

Anonymous Kiteboarder!
 

I made the News & Reporter at Lake Waccamaw, NC.

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Congratulations, nice shot too! What was the wind like?