Quick update (it's blowing right now)
Sat - Drive day (& dropped off sails at Barrett's, thanks for the plug)
Sunday- nice 6.0 session starting at 8 am, also messed with kites in afternoon.
Monday - blew first thing but then shut down, I missed it. Barrett actually had wind in Nags head and sailed his new 7.0 on 100 ltrs.
Tuesday - Cranked in the morning, I sailed my new 7.5 Ezzy FreeRide, it does have alot of range, Big Al (Stewart) was running his 6.5. If I would have rigged down I may have went to my 5.2. Then I had a good session on my 12 meter kite. Big Al and I are working on our kiting and are making good progress.
Everyone in the house (Lisa & Me, Danny & Jenny, Don & Celine, Eddie B, Big Al, Rick Coffer, Rich Mak, Mark & Johnny). is (are) getting in alot of sailing, good eating, some drinking, hot tubbing, even some SUPing in the sound, and guitar hero-ing.
Here's some links for the conditions -
http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AM/135.html
According to IWindsurf, we have gusts to 26, averaging 17 right now (7am) so got to go. I LOVE THIS PLACE!
Gene
Gene Mathis
Wednesday report -
Cold (actually just cool,) overcast and rainy, and what a great fun day! And we did have wind all day.
We started early, about 7:30, and put out the Hot Dog (blow up kids float we use for a jibe marker. First we made some speed runs with GPS's with recorded speeds around 29-30mph with one 33 mph (Rich Mak, he is quick.) Then we did our jibe practice around the Hot Dog, with some successes and some big splashes. Then we did some races from the Hot Dog to the channel marker and back, We did one race to the channel marker almost straight down wind which had a wild ride down and required several tacks to get back. It really was a fun morning and at noon it slacked off a tad and it was lunch time. Alittle later, the wind shifted more to the East (from North East) and cranked back up, so we had another jibe practice session late afternoon until almost dark.
The forecast is looking good for the rest of the trip, and it's blowing now, 6:45 am, so got to go and LOVE THIS PLACE!
Gene
Gene Mathis
Thursday was a crazy day windwise. The wind went from E to SE to SW then quickly to NE. I sailed my 6.0 / 115 ltr to start, then put it on the 86 ltr, then was blown off the water. I rigged my 5.2 and then the wind went to zero while it poured down rain for awhile as it turned NW. Then it cranked up another notch. Some sailors rigged 4.5-4.7s, I sailed my 5.2 Ezzy Wave Panter (insert Ezzy commercial here) on the 86 liter board. It was very close to survival sailing. Then it dropped back a little and was alot better sailing. Then it dropped back alittle more and I kited with my 12 meter kite until dark. It was a long day, lots of rigging, gear flying around the yard, lots of crashes, and lots of Fun.
Our forecast looks good for today and Sat, and it looks like Atlanta is going to get alot of wind for the race. That should be wild.
Anyway, I love this place.
Gene
Gene Mathis
Final Report -
Friday was actually another good day wind wise with sailors running 6.5-7.5 sails in the morning with it picking up to 6.0 stuff later in the day.
BUT, just like windsurfing can be humbling, so can kiting. After a good day on the kite on Thursday, where I really felt good about progressing, Friday was a pain. While trying a drift launch on my 9 meter kite, the lines really got tangled, and although it didn't drag me around or anything, it took about an hour to untangle the mess. (while all the windsurfers were having fun.) Then I completed a drift launch, and did ride the board some, but was underpowered, so didn't kite very long. Then when trying a self landing, the kite wouldn't stay on it's side and fell over. No big deal but more aggravation. All the while , Big Al completed his drift launch and self landing with no problems. Anyway, I did go out on my 6.0 and 115 liter board for late session to finish off the trip.
Saturday, finished packing up and drove home.
The trip was fun with plenty of wind, and a great group of people. I wish I could have stayed another week.
I DO LOVE THAT PLACE!
Gene
Gene Mathis
Thanks Danny and Gene for organizing a great trip with a great group of people. We really lucked out with plenty of wind each day - not so this week.
Thursday update:
Saturday was transition day when the GA/TN crew left for home and the MA/NH crew arrived. It was cold (low 50's), but there was a breeze. I checked out of the house for Danny, but it took me over an hour to get back from the realtor due to the northbound traffic from the overwash and road closure. There was a carpet cleaner in the house when I returned, who locked the doors when he left, trapping my wetsuits inside, so I didn't sail. Gary and Brian went out on 7.0 sails, while Dave played with his 3.0 meter inflatable kite. The housekeeping cleaners didn't show up until after 5:00, and finished up around 6:30.
Sunday started out with temps in the high 40's and cranking wind. I sailed all day on my 4.5 and an old 70 liter tri-fin Fox glass board until I had to start preparing dinner. I grilled in the cold rainy wind for the second week in a row.
Monday started out with temps in the low 40's (BRRRR!!!). I sailed my 5.7 on another old Fox board around 110 liters.
Tuesday and Wednesday were milder, but mostly dead calm. I went out on my 9.5 yesterday to break the boredom. This morning (Thursday) it is dead calm with glassy water in the sound, but promises of some wind later today and tomorrow.
Despite the lack of wind the past couple of days, I do love this place!!!
Report from Nags Head House. We also had three days of steady NW wind ending the cold spell with warm sunny weather on Monday. That day we sailed between 5.8 to 6.5 until late afternoon. Tuesday we hiked at Nags Head Woods. Wednesday we went surfing. Pat rented a 9 ft board from Cavalier Surf Shop and said it was the most fun he's had for $15.
Barrett
Final update from Rodanthe.
The wind never happened yesterday (Thursday). It was a beautiful day and we all had our kites pumped up and ready, but......
I took a nice long bike ride.
This morning the sound is like glass again, but the forecast is calling for SSE at 10-20 later this afternoon. Fingers are crossed.
Brian decided to go home at 10:00 last night, but the rest of us will wait to see what happens today.
Saturday is supposed to be windy, but with scattered T-storms, so I think I'll pack up tonight and head home in the morning for my 13 hour drive. The rest of the crew plans to leave tonight.
I'm very happy that I was able to be here last week on Danny's trip.
Update from Nags Head. We sailed this afternoon with big gear and got on a plane early. Unfortunately, a cloud bank moved in that blocked the sun and cut off the thermal effect late in the day dropping the wind just below planing speed. At least we had fun for a while.
With the forecast calling for temp. in the 70's and wind in the upper 20's, Pat and I plan to extend our stay and sail until the afternoon. Hope you guys in Atlanta also get good wind ahead of the cold front.
Barrett
Saturday, our last day, the wind has ramped up through the day and is now blowing SW at 25 kts. I sailed a 5.9m & 84 liter board in the morning and 5.2 m sail with the same board in the afternoon. It was so warm & sunny, I sailed without a wetsuit in the afternoon. At one point I counted 15 WS & kiters on the water. Pat quit at 3PM and packed up for the return to Atlanta just before rainstorms moved in ahead of a cold front.
Barrett