Epic Hatteras Dawn Patrol Sesh

Just wrapped up a sweeeet dawn patrol sesh southside!

Here is the wind graph from Frisco Pier. It must read a bit low, because most of us where on low 4 meter sails, and in fact Stuart rigged down to 3.7.


We where on the beach and rigged by 8am.

Lit 4.0 conditions and small boards. Sailors present were Andy Mcckiney, Stuart Proctor, and Ken Kellar.

Some of the waves where well overhead, and the rides were long. This was a nice ride by Stuart







Andy Mckinney




I had a ton of fun, and got dialed enough to toss a forward. I didn't sail away but I'm getting closer. I'm becoming more aware of things as I'm going thru the rotation. Basically I need to pull harder with the back hand.


Took a bunch of pics so check back later for those. I'm blogging with my iphone, coming to you directly from the closet shop to the Canadian Hole, Sailworld. We're mulling over the venue for our evening sesh. Will it be another wavesailing sesh southside, or 3.6 insanity at the Hole? Check back later for the pics and the report from the evening sesh..

****UPDATE*****

The east facing beachs where battered by the full brunt of the NE winds.


We were all pretty tired. Heck, we've been going 150 miles per hour since last Wedsenday! So after giving it some thought, Bill decided to stay up north and catch a session in Nagshead, so we decided to take break from wavesailing, and sailed the Canadian Hole.


3.6 conditions!


Stacked and Packed!


Andy again








The Hole didn't do much for me today. I dunno, 6-7 straight days of wave sailing has a way of killing any enjoyment I get outta flatwater sailing. Never the less, we blasted back and forth on tiny sails, and I worked on my transitions. Actually, they needed the work cuz they stunk tonight! Oh well, can't always have it your way. Shot some helmet cam video at the Hole, so check back later for that.

Tomorrows' another day, and that means more wind here on Hatteras. A nor'easter is spinning off the coast.


We'll be having huge surf, and super high winds approaching 50! Should be pretty insane!

Hatteras Wavefest Is Firing!

Today was supposed to be a light wind day, with it filling in by late afternoon. They called it just right.


So around 3.30, Ken and I drove down to the southside for a late afternoon sesh of wavesailing. I rigged my 5.6 Simmer. I was way powered up. The waves where peeling, and they packed a pretty good punch. We had a blast.
I'm learning so much down here. The conditions have been fabulous! We've wave sailed every single day. Today, I was able to catch a wave each time I approached the beach. Some where 5-6 turn waves. If a break was peeling upwind, two tacks later, we where on it. We've scorded BIG TIME. Unreal.






As we began the sesh, the light wasn't all that good, and it was getting difficult to read the water. Then, toward the end of the sesh, the clouds parted, the sun beamed thru, the colors thru my sail were breathtaking. It was a magical moment (I actually used the term spiritual). It was pretty special. Wish my wife was there to experience it. I'm missing her pretty bad right about now.



The wind is gonna get stronger. Gale warnings have been posted for the next several days. The sailing is just gonna be insane!! The unique thing about Hatteras though is that the island is shaped like a boomerang, so you can often find a beach where the wind is side off, and the shorebreak is reasonable, so I'm optimistic that we'll be able to find some wavesailing somewhere.

Andy came out and showed us how its done.














My kit


Another spectacular Hatteras sunset

Reef Run Fun

These shots are from our run out to the reef on Saturday 9/20. So many big-floaty jumps, and both Ken and I each threw a loop.







Here is what the forecast looks like for the rest of the week!

S OF OREGON INLET TO CAPE HATTERAS NC OUT 20 NM-
S OF CAPE HATTERAS TO OCRACOKE INLET NC OUT 20 NM
INCLUDING THE MONITOR NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY-
427 AM EDT MON SEP 22 2008

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON...

TODAY
NE WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 6 FT DOMINANT PERIOD
9 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

TONIGHT
NE WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT DOMINANT PERIOD
8 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

TUE
NE WINDS 25 TO 35 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 KT. SEAS 7 TO 10 FT.
A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

TUE NIGHT
NE WINDS 25 TO 35 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 KT. SEAS 9 TO
13 FT. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

WED
NE WINDS 25 TO 35 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 KT. SEAS 11 TO 15
FT. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

WED NIGHT
NE WINDS 25 TO 35 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 KT. SEAS 11 TO
15 FT. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

THU
NE WINDS 25 TO 30 KT. SEAS 10 TO 14 FT. SHOWERS LIKELY.

FRI
NE WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. SEAS 7 TO 10 FT. SHOWERS LIKELY.

Hatteras Southside Wave Sailing

Beautiful Hatteras


Two sessions today. First one was a wavefest freeform session at 8.30am. The venue, was once again southside, below Hatteras Village. I sailed a 5.6 for the first sesh, then 5.0 for the second later in the day around 5pm.


This is where we're staying. The "Sea Lure" is in Avon.


Rigging up for the first sesh:

Nice huh?! Had some REEEEALY long rides this morning, but the waves really didn't have much punch to em. Now the evening sesh was different!

Ken setting up for a nice one (photo lifted from Andy's blog, photo taken by Anne)


Here i am going down the line on a nice one!







Saw lots of canonball jellyfish, flying fish, and Ken saw a porpoise.


Post sesh reflections:


Ken and Bill





Then over to check out the conditions at the light house. Something was burning the and the wind blew the smoke right toward the lighthouse.


The East Coast Surfing Championships was happening. Was quite the spectacle:


Bleachers, sponser tent, blaring music. Pretty impressive





Waves where well overhead




My next camera




Evening sesh was fun too. Present to share the fun where Andy, Keith, and Ken. Waves had a LOT more power, and the hits where pretty impressive. Man wavesailing is so much fun! Once your on a wave face, you have the power to go where ever you want. I'm so close to getting some wave aerial off the lips. I can feel it................