Tropical Storm Delivers An Epic Two Venue Day

Hana came thru today with epic conditions. Tropical force storm force winds blew all day, and we all were sailing with mid-3 meter sails and tiny boards.


We started the day at the Canadian Hole, and wrapped it up with and ocean session at The Point (Old Life Guard Beach) in some damn big waves. Waves at the hole were probably 2-4 foots, especially in close right where the hole bumps into the shallows.

Heres what Ego Beach looked like

Stuart gives us a sense of the scale. It was at least mast high



It was huge, with a raging current. Can't believe later in the day we sailed just around the corner at The Point. It was pretty big today.




WRAL News-Coverage you can count on!


Donny Bowers was a stand out today. He was throwing some huge forwards.





Keith MuCulloch getting vectors from air traffic control




Pete Lewando



Martine McCulloch



The McCullochs


Just a stroll in the park for some

Donny and Keith


While the Hatteras locals where putting on a show, I was just trying to keep from exploding. It was one those days where it was so windy you're stoked just to make your gybes. Funny, I found tacking easier today



My smallest kit, 3.6 and 77 ltr board


Yeah, it was windy today




I could barely hold onto my 3.6 in the gusts. If not the windiest day I've ever sailed, it was up there at the top.
Here are some shots from the session at The Point



Bill Bell was awesome today.
He's inspiring to watch. Pretty fearless.



This is a great sequence. Nice ride Bill!




Me, I was super stoked to finally make it out today. There was alot of water moving out there. The good guys make it look so easy



Emo and some carnage

But it didn't stop him from rigging up with us at The Point.



Here he is in front of a nice one

Charles Lategano

Great to meet you this weekend Charles.



Keith is the man. Thanks for sportin one of my stickers.



Wrap up to an epic day in Hatteras


I feel very blessed to have gotten to know Bill, Keith, Stuart, Donny, and all the other Hatteras locals. I've learned so much from them, and Keith your encouragement today meant alot. I still have a long way to go, but sailing with you guys is awesome stuff.

Shot some helmet cam action so check back for that. I'll be back next week for Wavefest. Aw yeah

Humbled In Hatteras

Today the venue to jump on Hana's conditions was the cove.

The 4.5 conditions we were expecting didn't materialize. I rigged a 5.0 on my 91ltr.
The waves however had some size. Diamond Shoals buoy shows the waves heights where between 10-12 feet today, and I let em psych me out. Yeah, I struggled today. Never made it out. The rip was like a freight train, and the wind was maddeningly light thru the impact zone. Funny, none of the locales had any trouuble getting out, but I was denied every single time. Gotta be humbled every now and then I guess. It all good, and I learned alot. Days like this are gonna happen.
Everyone was here today







Bill Headin out:

Bill on a nice one


Lounge on the inside had a ripping current



Its bigger than it looks:


Keith McCulloch Launching:


Same run out by Keith







Looking east toward the shoals


Diamond shoals are out there:


Thanks Bill for all your help today:


I shot some helmet cam action today. Mostly contains me getting worked.


Stopped by the grocery and thought this was kinda cool. In preparation for the impact of Hana tonight/tomorrow, Food Lion covers the front glass with these shingles. Kinda neat to see how they prepare. Not something we ever see up north.


Tomorrow the forecast is off the charts.
S OF OREGON INLET TO CAPE HATTERAS NC OUT 20 NM-
553 PM EDT FRI SEP 5 2008

TORNADO WATCH 889 IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EDT SATURDAY

TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT

HURRICANE WATCH IN EFFECT

SAT
TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS EXPECTED WITH HURRICANE CONDITIONS
POSSIBLE. S WINDS 45 TO 55 KT WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 65 KT. SEAS 13 TO
16 FT. A CHANCE OF TSTMS. SHOWERS LIKELY IN THE MORNING...THEN A
CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON

Think I'll most likely be sailing at the hole, and if the forecast comes thru, I'll be sailing in the heaviest conditions I've ever experienced. I'll be wearing the helmet cam so check back!

Here Comes Hana

I'm headed to Cape Hatteras tonight to play with Hana.
The hope is to sail the cove. I've heard/read so mcuh about this spot, and I'm really looking forward to sailing the venue. I plan to hook up with Bill and a few others, and the plan is to watch, learn, probably get trashed in some big surf, and have a blast!



Check back for photos and video.