Snorkelling at Mackay Cay and trip back to Port Douglas via Snapper Island and some whales

Last day of the trip. After breakfast we packed up camp on Mackay Cay then had did some great snorkelling on the reefs there.  These are some of the best corals I have seen on the Great Barrier Reef.

There was light wind so the trip back was fast and smooth. Approaching Snapper Island there was a whale and it calf swimming through between the island and the shore.

Snapper Island is a lovely spot for a short break.

We got back to Port Douglas in good time, everyone very happy with the trip.

This is one of the best kitesurfing adventures I have done. Brett and Vanessa's local knowledge of tides, locations and weather, sea craft, logistics and their good company made the trip outstanding.

Whale (spout)

Snapper Island

Snapper Island

Mounting a kitecam

I am setting up a kitecam to take video while kiting. The model of the camera is an Oregon Scientific ATC-2K which can take about 1h of footage (VGA 640 X 480 30 frames per second) on a 2 gig SD card. The device uses 2 AA batteries. It is a bit tricky to navigate the menu using the small LCD screen, but once set up it doesn't need adusting.

Side view

Top view

I may get lucky and get some footage like this amazing still photo from a kite-mounted camera taken by Dave Sheridan of him kiting over a whale! [link]


I have had the camera for a while and have been "too busy" to set it up. But a light wind day at Gnotuk Ave was a good opportunity to rig it.

After a bit of research on the Internet, it seems the best place for the camera is mounted on the main central spar. This puts it out of harms way and points it at the rider.

I also rigged up a nylon safety line to secure the camera in case the main mount system fails.

Camera mounting, kite leading edge down on beach

Camera mounting, kite upside down on beach

Camera mounting detail, note safety line to kite securing loop (used while inflating)

Now I just need another windy outing to shoot some footage. The camera will only be "right way up" for one tack - for the other one it will be upside down.

Links

• Kiteboarder sails over whale - Telegraph
• CamRig - KiteCam
• Kitesurfing caloundra passage with kite camera, YouTube
• Oregon Scientific ATC2K (ATC-2000) Helmet Camera | Helmet Camera Centra