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Port Call News: YACHTING AND WATER SPORTS PAGE
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This past Saturday, October 25th 2003, will go down in the kite surfing record books. It was the first time anyone kite surfed between Bonaire and Curaçao. And it was done by not one, but by three people.
This first-ever kite crossing was done spectacularly and safely. It showed that the sport, if practiced with the right gear and knowledge, is very safe. From the kiters' point of view it also provides something positive to counter the unjustly negative publicity kite surfing has endured lately.
The trip began at 9:10 am from Pink Beach with three experienced kite surfers: Edwin Bonne from Curaçao, Jeroen Roevros and Pieter Zweers, both from Bonaire. It was from Bonaire's Pink Beach to Jan Thiel Beach, Curaçao, with a stop at Klein Curaçao. The kiters were accompanied by a boat with a TV crew from "Kiko Ta Kiko TV" (Tele Curaçao) who recorded it from start to finish.
Between Pink Beach and Klein Curaçao a huge group of dolphins met the kiters and wanted to play with their jumping colleagues. They were jumping as high as they could to impress the kiters, who in their turn did their best to out-jump these amazing mammals. It was unforgettable.
In just 2 hours and 8 minutes the group arrived at Klein Curaçao still excited about the dolphins that had accompanied them. After a short rest, the kiters continued on to Curaçao. On the way from Klein Curacao to Jan Thiel Beach the support boat took off after a large school of tuna. They wanted to throw out a line to catch dinner, but then they realized they had a job to do. In 1 hour and 23 minutes the team arrived at Jan Thiel where a big crowd had gathered to welcome the adventurers.
Total flying/sailing times was 3 hours and 31 minutes. Who knows what time they would have set if the winds were a steady 20 knots.
The next challenge: Kite crossing from Curaçao to Aruba, about triple the distance in rougher seas.
Photo and Story by Edwin Bonne, Pieter Zweers, and Jeroen Roevros.
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Happy Ours, USA
Henderberg
Independencia, Ger.
It's Good, USA
Josina, Netherlands
Living The Dream, BVI
Manguangua, USA
Macaby, Netherlands
MarNel IV, USA
Mu III, Curaçao
Natural Selection, USA
Nereida, Sweden
Plan B, USA
Perseverance, USA
Precocious Gale, USA
Romance, St. Vincent
Sandpiper, USA
Santa Maria, Sweden
S.D.F.
Scintilla, Germany
Sea Swallow, USA
Summer Wind III, Canada
Surprise, USA
Syrus, France
Ti Amo, USA
Today, USA
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Tom Cat, USA
Traveller, Canada
Tu Y Yo-IV, Venez.
Ty Dewi USA
Ulu Ulu, USA
Unicorn, Norway
Varedhuni, Germany
Wishful Thinking, U.K.White Whale, Anguilla
Ya-T, BVI
Zahi, Malta
Zeno's Arrow, USA
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Aeson, Netherlands.
Alagria, Netherlands
Amphritrite, USA
Bird of Paradise, USA
Black Coke, Curaçao
Blauwe Crab, Curaçao
Bossonova
Calcetines, Spain
Calliope of Arne, Neth.Camissa, Chan Is.
C'est La Vie, St. Martin
Chameleon
Circe I, Denmark
Comoran, Neth.
Dama di Mar
Dauntless
Delphin
Delphinus, USA
Doo Dah
Dutch Touch, Cayman Is.
Escapade, France
Flying Cloud, USA
Gatsby, USA
Grete, Germany
Guaicamar I Venezuela.
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