Kites Galleries

Cape Fear Kite Fly 2009 : Photos from the Cape Fear Kite Fest 2009 in Wrightsville Beach, NC.  We had no wind on Saturday and essentially no wind Sunday morning.  Later Sunday it picked up a bit and we were able to put up about 12-13 of our 90 ft octopi.  We had ~24 of them on hand and were hoping to beat the world record for big octopi in the air but the winds wouldn't cooperate.  Had a good time anyway with all our friends.  Mike and Judy Agner bust their butts to put this thing on each year, nice to have someone willing to do all the work while the rest of us get to have all the fun.

Cape Fear Kite Fly 2009

Photos from the Cape Fear Kite Fest 2009 in Wrightsville Beach, NC. W ...

Updated: Nov 10, 2009 2:29pm PST

Ursula's Maiden Voyage : This is Ursula, named after the purple octopus in Disney's Littlest Mermaid.  She's 88 ft tall and was made by Peter Lynn in New Zealand and bought through David Gomberg at www.Gombergkites.com.  These pictures are of her maiden voyage on 03-08-09 at Holden Beach, NC.  There was only about 6 mph wind so I had to add a Pilot 60 as a lifter and fly on 750 lb line.  Wind picked up later and she flew beautifully.  Wind was straight out of the west and tide was way out so no worries about fences, houses, etc.

Ursula's Maiden Voyage

This is Ursula, named after the purple octopus in Disney's Littlest Me ...

Updated: Mar 08, 2009 4:50pm PST

July 4 '08 Holden Beach : A few of the kites Grumpy and I flew on the 4th.

July 4 '08 Holden Beach

A few of the kites Grumpy and I flew on the 4th.

Updated: Jul 06, 2008 9:38am PST

Day at the Docks 08 :

Day at the Docks 08

Updated: May 04, 2008 8:22am PST

John's Kite Bag : I'm just now starting to organize pictures of my kites.  Here are a few of them, more to be added as I get photos.  A couple of the pics (mostly of the dual lines) aren't ones I shot but were taken by people I bought them from.

John's Kite Bag

I'm just now starting to organize pictures of my kites. Here are a fe ...

Updated: Aug 09, 2007 6:27pm PST

Launching the big flag : Step #1- Tell everyone on the beach that this is really a kite, not a flag, and as such it will inevitably touch the ground.  We'll treat it with respect but it generates extreme pull even in low winds and can't be held off the ground without serious injury.  Then tell them the same thing again, because the crowd has grown.
Step 2: Walk down the lifter kite (10 x 12 feet, flying on 500-750 lb line...you can see the lifter in photo #16) and attach top of flag to lifter line with carabiner.
Step 3: Avoid fences, bushes that will tear the flag
Step 4: Gradually let the lifter line go back up while trying to protect the flag from tearing (this is the dangerous part)
Step 5: When flag is off the ground adjust amount of sand in bag hanging on lower "pole" end of kite to make it hang straight...usually takes several tries to get it right (too little weight, kite blows out with no shape, too much wt, pulls lifter down too much.)
Step 6: Listen to the crowd applaud lead them in Pledge of Allegiance
Step 7: Answer questions about how big it is, how much it cost, do you have a stars & bars since you're in NC?

Launching the big flag

Step #1- Tell everyone on the beach that this is really a kite, not a ...

Updated: Jun 05, 2007 5:40am PST

Cape Fear Kite Festival Nov06 : Kite fly in Wrightsville Beach, NC on November 4-5. Fliers from WACKOS (Wings Across Carolina Kite & Okra Society), WOW (Wings Over Washington), RAF (Richmond Air Force) & others participated.

Cape Fear Kite Festival Nov06

Kite fly in Wrightsville Beach, NC on November 4-5. Fliers from WACKOS ...

Updated: Nov 07, 2006 2:02pm PST

Festival By The Sea : Festival By The Sea is an annual arts/crafts show at Holden Beach, NC in Oct06.  Usually all the WACKOS show up but this year is was only Bob, Leigh, Priscilla, and me.

Festival By The Sea

Festival By The Sea is an annual arts/crafts show at Holden Beach, NC ...

Updated: Nov 07, 2006 10:15am PST

Flying Kites with S. African kids : In September, 2006 we went with a group of kite fliers to participate in the 11th annual Cape Town Kite Festival in  Muizenburg, South Africa.  The purpose of the festival is to raise funds for the Cape Mental Health Program. A few days before the official festival, we went to a local park and flew with the children who are in the program.  The trip was organized by David & Susan Gomberg. You can find more info and photos on their website. http://www.gombergkites.com/update/index.shtml

Flying Kites with S. African kids

In September, 2006 we went with a group of kite fliers to participate ...

Updated: Nov 02, 2006 6:20am PST

Bloodhound kites : These kites were custom made for me by Dave Holt in the U.K. They were modeled after my bloodhounds Dudley & Nell.  I have one 16 ft, two 8 ft, and three 4 ft ones.

Bloodhound kites

These kites were custom made for me by Dave Holt in the U.K. They were ...

Updated: Oct 24, 2006 8:18am PST

Dieppe Kite Festival 2006 : These photos were taken at the Dieppe International Kite Festival, September 2006.

Dieppe Kite Festival 2006

These photos were taken at the Dieppe International Kite Festival, Sep ...

Updated: Oct 18, 2006 11:57am PST