Ok, Carl, much of what you have said is largely correct, but irrelevant to the issue at hand; i.e. whether the sun sets over the water from the perspective of an individual on the beach in front of Casa Ybel. Here is some science: The tilt of the earth’s axis cannot be ignored; it is the only reason that the sunset (and sunrise) positions on the horizon change during the year. If the earth’s axis were perpendicular to its orbital plane, sunset and sunrise would always be at the same position on the horizon (due east and west), day and night would be equal (12 hours) at every point on the earth every day of the year, and there would be no seasons. The greater the tilt, the more extreme the seasons and the greater the difference in sunrise and sunset positions during the year.

But, the 23.5 degree tilt of the earth’s axis means we have seasons, summer days are longer than winter days, and the sunset positions change throughout the year. At the northern hemisphere summer solstice (approximately June 22), the sun sets (and rises) at its furthest north position. After that, the sun sets further south every day until the winter solstice (approximately December 22). The position changes gradually at the solstices, but relatively rapidly at the equinoxes. For an observer on the Casa Ybel beach, the sun sets wsw and over the water at the winter solstice, and for a few weeks before and after. This is a fact, and can be proven by photos such as those Carl has posted ( I have several hundreds more). If anyone has the opportunity, they should witness sunrise and sunset at Casa Ybel near both solstices; it would be illuminating. Most of us are at Casa Ybel at the same time every year, and lack that perspective.

The sunrise and sunset positions are not perfectly symmetric at the Casa Ybel beach (relative to the Gulf) because the beach faces slightly east of due south. Thus, for much of the year the sun rises over water but sets over land. But not for an approximately 8 week period around December 22; we get both events over the water. I’m sure we will get some crank postings disputing this fact, as we already have, but that doesn’t change its veracity. As they say, “It is what it is”.

to ad to your article "And there is nothing we can do about it".

Thank you George,for a very fine article well worth reading. I appreciate your patience and the time you took to educate many of us in the finer things about celestrial happenings at Casa Ybel.
If you do not mind I would like to present more of your photo skills to our owners, perhaps with some text for better understanding. I can copy them into
e-files for use on the web pages.
Thanks again
Carl

Fine with me. Let me know if you need or want anything else.

This is all too complicated for me. As long as you can see the sunset from somewhere in Casa Y'bel, what difference does it make if it is from your porch, at the beach or in the car park?

The issue was whether you can see it set over water, or behind a condominium complex; Not whether it sets at all.

Do not forget that it all started with our help from Weather channel showing our air Temperature at periods during the day, look forward to your stay!

Would apprecitate photos taken on beach (close to our pool) facing sunset and adding to collection by the week?
Send copy to James@casaybel.com
Thanks
Carl