Kite-flying's a breeze in West Sayville

Bats, sailboats, butterflies, a blowfish and an octopus took to the sky with ease in West Sayville Saturday morning, floating and weaving on a gentle breeze.

It was the perfect day to go fly a kite -- the only problems occurred when kites competing for height got tangled up.

But Katie D'Ambrosio, 8, of Bayport, is a pro. She's come to this annual Kite Festival, now in its fourth year, at the Long Island Maritime Museum almost every year with her family, and she knew how to keep her "Girls Rock!" kite flying high without getting ensnared.

"Everybody was going near me because they were trying to beat me, but then they got tangled up," she said triumphantly, gesturing to her hand-decorated kite complete with peace signs and polka dots.

The sky behind the maritime museum was dotted with kites, 50 or more at a time. For many younger kids, this was the first time flying a kite, and for some parents it was the first time in decades.

Michelle Phillips, 33, of Sayville, and her 3-year-old daughter Lily worked with a rocket-ship kite.

Lily, a first-timer, kept a white-knuckle grip on the string.

For her mom, it was the first time in decades -- she remembered flying a "Star Wars" kite at the beach when she was around Lily's age.

"It's a beautiful day, it's something to do and it's a beautiful setting down here," Michelle Phillips said.