ShipStore.com Beacon: Photo Contest & Westport Challenge Regatta

Issue 86, July 6, 2006

http://www.ShipStore.com

Floating your boat since 1982 TM





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IN THIS ISSUE:

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~ WELCOME ABOARD: Photo Contest & Westport Challenge Regatta

~ CAPTAIN'S TIP: Wego Kite Tube Safety Instructions

~ CAPTAIN'S SPECIALS: Mid-Summer Specials

~ CAPTAIN'S CONTEST: "Win a Shopping Spree" Drawing



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~ WELCOME ABOARD: Photo Contest & Westport Challenge Regatta

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Lake Champlain just set another high water record, but warm water and sunny
skies made for a splendid 4th of July holiday nevertheless. Swimming, boating,
tennis, plenty of eating,
theatre
and time to catch up with family made for a great couple of days.



Like many of you, we took plenty of great 4th of July photographs of family,
fireworks, etc. Now's your chance to cash in on your great photographic skills!
Email me you best shot(s) for consideration in our Independence Day photo
contest, and you could be selected to win a $100 shopping spree at
ShipStore.com!



Send your photo(s) before July 19 (to the email address below). If you're not
already a Beacon e-newsletter subscriber you will be added to our mailing list,
and we'll contact the winner and publish the winning pics on the website. $100
credit at ShipStore.com AND global fame all for sending in a photo!?!? Sounds
too good to be true, but it's not. Good things happen to good people and all
that jazz. Please remember to include your name and contact information when you
send your photo(s).



More good news for local sailors. Saturday, July 29 is the annual Westport
Challenge Regatta once again hosted by Westport Marina in Westport's Northwest
Bay on Lake Champlain. This year the sailing regatta is sponsored by The Brooks
Group of Merrill Lynch in Albany. Registration and skippers' meeting will be
held at The Galley Restaurant at 9:30 am, Saturday, July 29, and races are
staggered from 10:45 to 11:30. Perpetual Regatta Cups, courtesy of Merrill
Lynch, will be awarded for all classes. Winners will have their names and boat
names engraved on the cups and displayed in The Galley, and individual winners
will receive plaques. Find more information on the
Westport Marina
website where you can download a registration form.



George Davis, Beacon Editor,

editor@shipstore.com



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~ CAPTAIN'S TIP: Wego Kite Tube Safety Instructions

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Our enthusiasm for the SportsStuff Wego Kite Tube is no secret. It's been the "must have" water sport enthusiasts' hot product since early this spring, and we've done our best to keep them in stock. And we've also done our best to pass along relevant information, photos, video and updates to inform and educate you about this wildly popular product.



It's time for an important update. All of the hype around the Wego Kite Tube doesn't really come as a surprise. Just watch some of the Wego videos at YouTube.com and you'll "catch the craze". But recently there have been some questions about safety including this Tube Kiting Safety Alert, so I'd like to pass along some helpful instructions and warnings to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable experience with the Wego this summer.



You may have noticed that I recently added Robert Stephens' (Executive Editor of
Boating Life Magazine) kite tube tips video as well. This is an excellent video that you can stream through the internet, and I recommend it to you since it does a great job of distilling user friendly instructions from the frenzy of excitement this product has generated. I mean, let's face it, the Wego is NOT your typical water toy! The kite tube takes tubing to a whole new level, and that means you really DO need to slow down and learn the *correct* way of using your new Wego before firing up
your ski boat rocketing your kids into the ozone.



In short, I'll be the first to admit that adrenaline is a very cool thing. I'm a long time adrenaline junky myself. Add water and soaring/flying to the equation, and most of us turn off the brain and throw on our swimming suits without a second thought. It's just too enticing! But there are some obvious reasons to put on the brakes before tackling the Wego. The most obvious reason is that you want to minimize your chances of getting injured. The other less obvious reason is that following the instructions will almost certainly shorten your learning curve while hastening liftoff and improving the flight control.



Obviously I'm not the only one to have realized this as the Wego instruction video has been swamped the last couple of times I've tried to load it. This represents a bit of a dilemma for the prudent water sports enthusiast who wants to heed my advice, so I'm going to share the notes I scribbled down while watching the video. That way, even if the video is too popular for you to manage a download, you'll still have access to the "skills and techniques for a safer and more enjoyable ride" presented by Robert Stephens.



- Read the warnings and instructions in manual and on the tube.

- Wear a USCG approved lifejacket. (Note: this is NOT optional!)

- Properly inflate the Wego so that it's firm to the touch and the bladder fits snugly inside the cover without any significant wrinkles.

- Do not drag the Wego across harsh, abrasive surfaces.

- Use the included tow rope specifically designed for "kiting".

- Follow manual instructions on how to attach the tow rope to boat and Wego.

- Never pull the Wego from a wake board tower.

- Attentive boat driver is vital since s/he has far more control over the Wego's performance than with other water sports like skiing.

- An attentive spotter is compulsory to communicate Wego status to the driver.

- Beware of gusty wind conditions: a gust of wind can launch the kite tube higher into the air than desired.

- A large, wide angle rear view mirror is advisable to help the driver observer the Wego rider.

- Avoid "submarine-ing" by pulling back on the leash until boat reaches planing speed and Wego lift occurs.

- Use only in wide open spaces.

- Watch for hazards and obstacles.

- Stay at least 100 yards from shore and NEVER use in shallow water.

- NEVER pull a towable without a rider because the Wego's balance is designed with a human's body weight in mind to balance the weight distribution, and this will destabilize the kite tube.

- NEVER jerk the rider.

- 0-20 mph is all that is necessary for the Wego to plane out.

- Optimal kiting conditions: hover consistently about a foot above the water's surface.

- If the rider reaches an undesirable altitude, the spotter needs to communicate this to the driver who should slow down.

- The boat driver should NEVER try to dump a rider as this could be extremely dangerous.



Mostly common sense guidelines, but worth passing along. Even more helpful are the rider instructions. Here are the main points (again "cribbed" from Robert
Stephens' video):



- Place legs on second or third step in slotted leg positions, knees pressed against middle of tube.

- Balance weight. Weight too far forward will cause the Wego to nose dive. Weight too far back will cause the kite tube to become unstable and wobble.

- Grasp starting leash and pull back until the Wego's "nose" pops up then signal to the boat driver that you're ready to begin.

- As the boat pulls forward continue to pull back on the leash.

- Position the tube 45 degree angle to the water, now you're ready for take off.

- From this take off position, you can control the tube by shifting your weight: forward to lower nose, back to raise nose, left and right respectively.

- A slight flex of the legs or a hop will cause the Wego to "lift off", leaving the water and rising to 45 degrees in the air.

- You'll know when you're airborne because of the silence!

- Once airborne switch to the handles. Experiment with handles to find the optimal balance point. Generally higher handles work best, but you'll need to find your own preferences.

- Emulate the body position of a jockey or a ski jumper, keeping your arms straight. Note: Even a slight shift in weight will cause a large change in the kite tube, and gusts of wind can cause your elevation to suddenly increase.

- You'll soon learn to raise and lower the altitude.

- You need to remain calm and patient. And remember, the main skill is confidence!



There you have it, the Wego Kite tube primer. Step-by-step instructions and techniques for mastering the hottest water sport product of the season. Do watch the video if you can manage to access it since it is quite helpful, but even if you can't you now have what I consider to be the most valuable information. Feel free to contact with me with any additional tips or pointers. And enjoy kiting!



George Davis, Beacon Editor

editor@shipstore.com



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~ CAPTAIN'S SPECIALS: Mid-Summer Specials

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Adjustable Drink Holder, White

Clear High Gloss Varnish, Quart

Chapman Piloting

Airhead Double Action Pump

Wind Scribe Ultra Sonic Wind Meter

Super Hol-Tite Handle

Fixed Mount VHF Radio with DSC, White

Deluxe Stainless Steel Rigging Knife

Collinite Paste Fleetwax 12oz

T-Wax Sealant by Armada, 16 ounces

Buff Magic 22 ounce

Hyper Halogen Cordless Rechargeable Spotlight, 1 million Candlepower

Nevr Dull Metal Polish (Never Dull)

210 Plastic Scratch Remover

Water and Stain Repellant, 16 ounce bottle

Golden Teak Oil Quart

Telescping Paddle with Hook 32"-5'6", Aluminum

Teak Sealer - Oil, Natural Quart

Searchlight 135 SL with Remote

LED Shake Lite Flashlight - No Batteries

Garmin Street Pilot 2620

Lure Pack & SmartCast Wireless Fishfinder RF30 Wrist Sonar

Sonar Watertemp 83/200KH

Plot-500f Chartplotter + GPS112 Antenna

Teak Sealer for Boats and Teak Furniture

Atlantis 250 Hand Held VHF Radio, White

Collinite Liquid Fiberglass WAX, PINT

Queen AeroBed

6.5 inch Color LCD Fish Finder - Depth Sounder.

Humminbird Matrix 97 Combo Plotter - Finder, Dual Beam Plus 405960-1



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~ CAPTAIN'S CONTEST: "Win a Shopping Spree!" Drawing

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Win a $100.00 credit at ShipStore.com by submitting your 4th of July photos for
the Independence Day Photo Contest. Photos should clearly capture the
Independence Day theme, but the subject is totally up to you. Get creative. To
be eligible, all you have to do is send us your photo(s) before July 19. If you
have a digital camera, please send your photos as an attachment, preferably in
JPG format. If your photos are printed, please scan them and send the digitals
as an email attachment to: editor@shipstore.com . It's that easy! Also, remember
to include your name and contact information.



You'll be sent a confirmation email to let you know that we've received your
submission. Good luck.



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COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

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COPYRIGHT 2006 ShipStore.com (tm) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Permission is granted to
electronically copy, print or forward this newsletter for use as a shopping,
boating or travel resource as long as it is not altered in any way and sent in
its entirety. Any other use of materials on this Web site--including
reproduction for purposes other than those noted above, modification,
distribution, or republication--without the prior written permission of Westport
Marina, Inc. is strictly prohibited.



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CONTACT INFORMATION

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ShipStore.com

6039 Route 9N

Westport, NY 12993

Telephone: 518-962-2700

Toll Free: 877-SHIPSTORE (US and Canada)

Fax: 518-962-4582