Friday, September 19, 2008

Issabelle's and Ocracoke!

Wave Fest is scoring some fabulous conditions! Today was another day of strong wind today here on Hatteras. 4.5 conditions.

Started the day with a early morning sesh at Isabelle's. Andy was there for dawn patrol. It was VERY challenging getting out. The dunes block the wind on the inside, creating a virtual no wind zone as you negotiate some pretty big waves. Oh, we had and incoming tide, and he shore break was rough. Took me two tries to get out, but once out there, the sailing was out of this world. I consider this a personal acheivement for me, because i paid some pretty heavy dues at Issies' back in '04 in very similar conditions. Great to get that monkey off my back!

This is the only shot I have of this session, as
Andy came in for break just as we arrived.

Here is some mast mount go-pro video:

Then the call came in that today's venue for the Wave Fest free form session was gonna be the north end of Ocracoke.

So we convoyed on down to the ferry in Hatteras Village.

The trip over takes about 45 minutes and is free!
Was pretty cool to have 6 or 7 windsurfing vehicles on the ship. Felt like a wind-safari!


Fun wave rides today, and some super high jumps. I was up there on a few of em! Even had some nice wave rides, once I got somewhat comfortable in the off shore conditions. The wind was quite off shore, and that makes it extremely difficult, both getting out, and on the outside (at least it was for me!) others didn't seem to have that much trouble. I was pretty much in awe of the locales. I'd love to see them rip up some REALLY big waves. Perhaps tomorrow!
Rigging up on the beach

Keith McCulloch was fmow (first man on the water)

Beautiful light





Takin a break in between sessions. Left to right: Jim Myers, Martine and Keith McCulloch, Ken Kellar

It was WINDY!

Keith with a nice hit





Ken Kellar early in the day


The Ride Hatteras crew


My first run out at Ocracoke





One of my better wave rides!



That one didn't end up so well



Here is Ken in a sequence I just love. It got pretty big today





I think this is Charlie Myers


Line em up


Bill arrived to excellent conditions


Nice one



Weston Van Wambeke











Coming back to Hatteras Island from Ocracoke. Another spectacular sunset



I have some go pro-footage from the morning sesh at Issabele's so check back later for that! Here is tonights update to the coastal marine forecast. I'm just shakin my head and grinning. Unreal!

SYNOPSIS FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL WATERS

THE MARINE CONDITIONS WILL BE HAZARDOUS THROUGH THE FORECAST
PERIOD DUE TO STRONG NE TO N WINDS AND HIGH SEAS. THIS IS THE
RESULT OF BACK TO BACK STRONG HIGH PRES CENTERS BUILDING OVER THE
NE COINCIDING WITH LOW PRES AREAS DEVELOPING ALONG A STALLED
FRONT TO THE SE. THE INITIAL HIGH CURRENTLY OVER NEW ENGLAND WILL
PRODUCE STRONG WINDS AND ROUGH SEAS INTO SAT. CONDITIONS WILL
GRADUALLY IMPROVE SUNDAY AND EARLY MON...BUT THEN A SECOND AND
STRONGER HIGH PRES SYSTEM AND SIMULTANEOUS OFFSHORE LOW WILL
COMBINE TO PRODUCE POSSIBLE GALE CONDITIONS EARLY TO MID NEXT
WEEK

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

once again great photos and reporting.. i think everyone had a good time, you and ken were ripping it up! can't wait to see what the rest of the week brings..-K

fswp said...

like you guys are getting some clean action to !!

nice report dude!