Gene & Marcel - Glad to hear you both made it home safely despite the long drive. As you know, Peggy and I are here for a full month, so I can continue to report. After you left on Saturday the wind continued to ramp up in Nags Head. I went out on a 5.2 meter sail with my 84 liter JP freestyle-wave board. After lunch, I switched to a 4.5 meter and sailed with Eric until we were exhausted.

Sunday the forecast was for no wind, but in the afternoon the sea breeze picked up from the SW and I went out on a 5.9 meter sail and my new 101 liter JP freestyle-wave board. This is the board I bought from you, and I love it! For the first time I tried switching from the standard bump & jump fin to the freestyle fin. After feeling like an idiot for repeatedly falling in the water, I started to get the hang of rotating the board 360 degrees at slow-speed while keeping the sail in the normal position. Changing the fin on this board makes it handle like a totally different animal.

For me, exploring freestyle offers the excitement and challenge of kiting - without the risk. However, freestyle is a lot harder to learn. There are lots of kiters here, but no freestylers to copy moves from.

This is not just my opinion, Peggy invited Brian, the manager of Windsurfing Hatteras, over for dinner. He kites and windsurfs. Brian told us that on the Outer Banks, where conditions are ideal for kiting (shallow sandy bottom, no obstructions, & steady wind), the moves are much easier to learn. By contrast, the numerous windsurfing freestyle moves & various jibes remain a challenge. He enjoys both sports.

Today there is no wind - a blessing since we need a day to recover.

ALL TOGETHER NOW - WE LOVE THIS PLACE !