Thursday, May 31, 2012

TS Beryl brought some weather to our area. Sunday afternoon when I arrived at the causeway the wind fades. I was hesitant to rig an 8.5 on the formula board because it looked like it could light up at any minute. Dennis and I were on 8.5's, Dino on a 7.3 and I am not sure what Art was on. We sailed for 45 minutes or so and the wind did come up. I rigged a 7.0 on the Bic and as I was launching Ron pulls up in his boat. He was out at the sandbar with his wife and friends. He had been sailing a 10.0 on his formula. I sailed the 7.0 for another hour, it was great.
Monday was similiar; I showed up, wind dies. Although the wind was stronger so Ron, Dino, Dorian and Art were on 6.5's and small boards. Dennis was smart he was sailing close to the causeway the others were way out at the House of Refuge. The storm that rolled through Jensen shut the wind down at the causeway first, so Dennis came in. We watched as the others continued to sail as another storm worked it's way through Stuart and soon they were standing still. Then multiple lightning strikes and heavy rain came in. Dino and Dorian swam their rigs in, a power boat came out to assist and brought Art in. Ron swam over to IR Plantation, took a nap on the fairway, and schlogged back when the wind started to stir.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Around 4:30 Dino calls me and says it's blowing at the causeway. I haven't sailed in 12 days so it didn't take much to talk me into going. The wind is out of the SE with a fair amount of white caps on the water so I rig a 7.0 and head out. The wind is fading so it was 20 minutes of mediocre sailing followed by 40 minutes of schlogging. So we end up on the island of the causeway talking and around 7:20 it starts picking up, right around the time Dino finally de-rigged his sail. So I head back out, younger Brandon is already out and the wind really fills in. I had to stop several times and flatten out my sail, it was great. As Brandon starts heading in I notice 2 sails streaking back and forth close to the causeway, Ron and Dino are back out. We sailed after sunset, it was sweet.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Hatteras Island

Today was unbelievably calm. At noon I rode my bike from Frisco to Hatteras and stopped halfway between at a beach access. From the boardwalk you could see the ocean and sound, both were dead calm.

Hatteras Island

Yesterday the wind came up earlier and stronger than forecasted. No one was up, I told Tammy I should go around and bang on some campers. I sailed by myself, wind was out of the north and it was nice and sunny. It was blowing 18 - 20 and I rigged a 7.0 on my bic.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Hatteras Island

Yesterday the wind came up out of the SW and I sailed with two other windsurfers on a 7.0. It was warm, sunny and a pleasent ride. Last nite the wind changed direction and around 3:00am gusts were hitting 30+ out of the NW. In the morning the skies became mostly sunny with the temperature in the low 60's. At 7:30am I was on the water on a 4.7 but the wind was dropping fast. So I rigged a 6.0 and was out till 9:00. It was fun because you were sailing parallel to shore instead  heading out into the great void of Pamilico Sound.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Hatteras Island

Yesterday the wind came up out of the south, which is onshore on the oceanside of Hatteras Island. So we headed to the ocean and I rigged a 4.7 but was underpowered
Oceanside Hatteras Island.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Frisco NC.

We arrived at the Outer Banks Sunday around 2:00pm. At 3:00 I am rigged and toting my gear down to the launch site at Frisco Woods campground. I am looking at the windsurfers standing around the area and there is Jerry!! They stopped at the Outer Banks on there way north and when Jerry heard it was going to blow he came over to Frisco Woods. I had rigged a 5.2 on my axxis 285 with a pointer fin. Jerry told me a 4.7 was more appropriate for the wind speed so I flattened out my sail and headed out. The axxis always needed a lot of power to get on plane so the sail wasn't a problem but the weeds were. I couldn't go 100 yards without picking up weeds. When Jerry was through he let me borrrow his weed fin and it was unbelievable. The board got on plane easier, pointed well and didn't pick up any weeds. I was so impressed I traced the outline on a cardboard box and wrote down the specs. This morning the very first windsurf shop had a used weed fin that was very close to the outline of Jerry's so I picked it up for $50. Back to the camp ground we go so I rigged a 6.0 on the axxis and it performed great. I sailed an hour or so and the wind seemed to back off some so I got out the bic. The free ride fin fouled up pretty fast with weeds so I headed in. The wind came up some so I was back out on the axxis. Later in the afternoon I picked up a weed fin for the bic at Hatteras Island Sail Shop and we talked quite a while with Barton. Yesterday afternoon and today was sunny with the wind out of the NE and a temperture of 75 degrees. Wearing a shorty wetsuit was all that was needed. There was a half dozen windsurfers and about 14 kite boarders on the water. Also, when we drove past Canadian hole the parking lot was packed.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Since Sunday afternoon the wind has been blowing out of the SE. I sailed Sunday on a 7.0, the water was shallow and I was picking up a lot of weeds on my fin. Monday I went out on my 92L wave board and a 4.7. I saw Art out at the House of Refuge and on my way back the strap at the head of my sail let loose and the mast cup flew off. I had to de-rig and swim everything back to the causeway. Monday after work I went back to the causeway but launched at the west island so I could get out on my sinker board. Brandon was there so I rigged a 5.2 on my 88L axxis. It was light at first but it filled in and it was fun. I hadn't sailed off that island in a couple of years. Tuesday was the best. Sunny skies and the water was low so the sandbar was cutting most of the chop and the channel was smooth. I rigged a 7.0 on my bic and made long runs up and down the channel. Dino, Jon, Norman and David were on the water. On the runs heading north you were bearing slightly off the wind and Dino clocked 34.1 on his gps. At one point a large sight seeing boat headed up the channel putting out a large wake and Jon took advantage of that.