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Bill's OBX Beach Life (10 unread)

Punta San Carlos, Day One

Fetched: August 31st, 2009, 1:34pm CEST by Bill

Reporting this week from PSC, Baja, the weather is excellent though the wind was here "yesterday." Usually when sailors visit Hatteras, I often tell them "You should have been here yesterday!" We heard that line from the crew who have been here before we arrived. Hopefully the wind and swell will build over the coming hours/days. I did catch a fun long board surf sesh yesterday, and some mountain biking into the "badlands!" Today, it currently looks like another surf sesh, which I will take after this post!

Stay tuned for more, as the week progresses!

Here are a few photos shot today (Sunday, 8/30):
Well, Gotta Pass on TS Danny for Punta San Carlos, Baja!!

Fetched: August 28th, 2009, 4:56am CEST by Bill

Tomorrow, I will be traveling across country, and Saturday heading south via small single engine plane to one of the top wavesailing destinations in the world!! Punta San Carlos, Baja Mexico is calling and all fingers are crossed for a memorable wavesailing adventure with lots of sick lip hits and aerial action! I am about 50% packed, but have my trusty list which includes everything from sunblock to GoPros. 50 lbs is the limit for the small plane flight, but I think I can manage.

Here on the OBX, all eyes are on TS Danny and his approach over the next few days. Also on the eve of Danny's arrival, I hope those here on the OBX score with wind to complement the awesome surf again this week/weekend! If I was not PSC bound, I would definitely NOT be vacating the OBX with the potential action brewing over the coming days. For those of you who can make it out here, I highly recommend you leave now for Hatteras! Summer wavesailing on the OBX is the absolute closest conditions we get to tropical paradise, aka Maui, and this is the precise time of year to take full advantage of the unique island wavesailing set up we have here. Remember, side-off conditions can be found anywhere on this stretch of islands, given the orientation which make these island so unique on the US east coast!

If you are on the fence...pack up and get out here!! Bring a surfboard or standup too!!
Hurricane Bill Wave Report, OBX - Its a Wrap!

Fetched: August 24th, 2009, 2:24pm CEST by Bill

The swell from Hurricane Bill came and left offering some of the best summertime OBX surf in recent memory! What began Thursday with initial swell beginning to show on the southern beaches and key sand bar breaks in Rodanthe/Waves, lasted though today and likely into the early part of this coming week. Friday afternoon experienced some of the best surf conditions from the storm swell, especially along the bar line at Coquina Beach in south Nags Head. For me, that was the key day as I was on the water light air wavesailing from 2:30pm though 6:00pm with so many fun waves caught. Weather conditions were perfect, and it was simply the best of the best for OBX summer tropical surf.

Saturday, we experienced the brunt of the storm swell with huge outside surf and a brutal inside bar break. Simply getting out past that inner bar was the real challenge on Saturday. Winds did ramp up late in the day ahead of a front of nasty weather, though I do not think anyone attempted to wavesail it in Avon. Though, there was action caught at the Canadian Hole in the sound!

Sunday, the surf calmed and with clearing afternoon skies, again picture perfect surfing waves in Nags Head and Coquina.

I believe the real sweet spot, for catching the best which Hurricane Bill offered, was at Coquina Beach in south Nags Head. The setup simply was perfect there both Friday and late in the day Sunday. I guess the surfing community found the spot throughout the weekend as the northern lot was packed with riders hitting the surf on Sunday as compared to a relatively small crew out on Friday.

All in all, an awesome surfing experience for all disciplines including wavesailing, kite surfing, and traditional surfing. Note, also some tow-in on Saturday!

Here are some photos in relative chronological order:
Hurricane Bill Wave Report, OBX - Day Three

Fetched: August 23rd, 2009, 7:21pm CEST by Bill

Today the full fury of Hurricane Bill arrived on the OBX! There was a ton of energy in the ocean today with a surreal haze which settled over the islands as the large swell from H Bill buffeted the Outer Banks. Surprisingly, though Bill's surf was big, it did not stack up to the legendary 20+ ft surf of H Noel in 2007. Though, the outer sand bars today were firing in the 12 to 15 ft range with an inner brutal bar wave pounding solid 6 to 8 ft heaving barrels. Light and variable winds kept the surf quite clean and glassy. The inner bar was the real challenge, and if you could make it past that zone, the outside offered a large lounge area and plenty of space between the set waves. Coquina Beach again was reported as simply epic for big wave surfing. I did not make it down there, but only heard that the reports from there noted awesome conditions. Tow-in surfing was reported in Rodanthe, along with extreme conditions in Avon and Buxton.

Tomorrow (Sunday) Bill's surf remains on the menu, and with afternoon SSW winds forecast to hit the low 20mph range, I will definitely be keeping my eye on Coquina Beach for perhaps a round two from Friday's epic sesh!

stayed tuned!

here are a few more pics from Friday as well as today:
Hurricane Bill Wave Report, OBX - Day Two - SCORED!!

Fetched: August 23rd, 2009, 12:17am CEST by Bill

Damn it was awesome today!!! Coqunia Beach just north of Oregon Inlet was the call. I am leaving for Punta San Carlos, a week from today...what a primer for the upcoming trip!! Full report coming soon including photos!!

Here is a teaser for you (click to enlarge):
Hurricane Bill Wave Report, OBX - Day One

Fetched: August 21st, 2009, 8:26pm CEST by Bill

Thursday, we began to see ocean swell arrive from Hurricane Bill. The southern OBX reported perfect head high conditions from Avon to Buxton. Reports from Alter Ego, across from Kite Point, noted near 100+ surfers in the water over the quarter mile stretch of beach. Further north in Waves/Rodanthe, the cut off point for the swell was found where the surf suddenly dropped off in size from S-Turns north to Nags Head. Though, at Caleb's secret spot in the tri-village, excellent chest to head high surf was found. I ended up surfing at Caleb's spot since the wind, never really ramped up for wavesailing where there was surf. Nags Head had wind yesterday, but the surf was, at best, waist high.

Today (Friday), we expect to see bigger surf and hopefully some sailable wind. All beaches should now be hitting chest high or bigger as H Bill's swell continues to arrive throughout the day. Low tide falls around 5:00pm this evening, so if the winds ramp up, it could be interesting?! Stay tuned!
Hurricane Bill and the OBX...From This to THIS?!

Fetched: August 21st, 2009, 2:05am CEST by Bill

Ocean swell from Cat 4 Hurricane Bill is forecast to hit the OBX beginning Saturday, Aug 22, and lasting though Monday. Viewing the ocean today, you would never know a monster storm was lurking out there.

From this today (Aug 19, 2009)...

To THIS for the upcoming weekend?!

And if H Bill swings a little closer to the OBX... THIS??!!

All in all, know your limits and respect the ocean. Conditions will likely be quite pounding out there, especially Saturday and Sunday!
Here Comes Hurricane Bill!!

Fetched: August 19th, 2009, 10:26am CEST by Bill

Welcome to US East Coast Tropical Season 2009! Hurricane "OBX" Bill (couldn't resist! :) ) is on the perfect track to provide some much needed summer time surf for the OBX. The latest models take it well clear/east of the Outer Banks, but in the ideal zone for surf forecast to hit this coming weekend! We are all quite excited to see clean lines and long period set waves breaking on the outer sand bars. All this small beach break surfing has to end sometime...!
If we experience some wind along with surf, talk about an added bonus!! Anyone remember TS Hana last year?!

In windsurfing news, be sure to check out Beach Telegraph's new online wind zine, Windsurfer International Magazine, Sept 2009. Its an excellent work and awesome example of using Web-based tools such as Adobe Flash and content management providers such as ZMags to render true "print magazine" quality, online! MauiSails also utilizes this technology in their Maui Monthly online zine!

FLASH UPDATE: The Human Catapult has done it!! His first FWD loop caught on GoPro footage! What an awesome achievement for a guy who we have seen go from a relatively beginner/intermediate windsurfer, to now a FWD looper in only 1 year, 4 months!! Congratulations on achieving this windsurfing goal!!
Learned from Hatteras Wave Jam and the 2008 Fests!

Fetched: August 16th, 2009, 7:58am CEST by Bill

I had a recent conversation with Ken K noting the spread of Atlantic side wavesailing stoke since the birth of the Hatteras Windsurfing Festival Series in 2008 and the Fests/Jams over the past two years. Ken has been an active participant in every event, and he noted how his ocean side skills have vastly improved since participating. Its awesome to hear and see sailors, especially on the US East Coast, challenge the Atlantic and graduate from the calm of the sound, lake, or bay side to the "3-D" experience found in the ocean. George M's recent post on Live2Sail highlights the spread and contagious nature of the ocean-side stoke/skills he acquired in Hatteras to local sailors in his area who had their first experience in the Atlantic courtesy of their local wave ambassador, George!

The Wave Jam Summer Edition held in mid-July additionally hosted two new Atlantic side sailors, and it was great to see them out in the ocean for the first time viewing of the beach from the outside. Ralph M from Triad Windsurfing and Kayaking noted, "$20 is a bargain for the experience of sailing with pros and the other stuff!...I didn't think I was ready for the ocean but George, Ken and Andy talked me into trying it Friday. Peer pressure is a mother!
I'm glad I did. It was one of my goals for 2009."
Congrats Ralph for achieving one of 2009 windsurfing goals! Glad we could help!

Special thanks also goes out to our local Hatteras Atlantic-side Ambassadors, Andy McKinney, Keith McCulloch, Stewart Proctor, and Jim Myers along with the local supporting shops, Sailworld Hatteras, Avon Sailhouse, and OceanAir Sports! You all are awesome, and its great to have the local support to help push our visiting sailors to take their windsurfing to the next level!

As we approach the Fall Tropical Edition of the 2009 Hatteras Wave Jam, the window has been scheduled for the next event! Fingers are crossed for another successful call for wind and waves! Last year Wave Fest 2008 scored with nearly 10 days of NE action and experienced awesome fall Hatteras wavesailing conditions!

If you are interested in graduating from the sound side waters to the Atlantic, be sure to join us for the Fall Edition! Set your vacation schedule and book your off-season lodging now, tune up the gear, and get ready! I know, I am looking forward to it!!
Our Summer Bermuda High...

Fetched: August 5th, 2009, 9:25pm CEST by Bill

Well, we have wrapped up nearly 10 days of consistent SW windy weather on the OBX! Beginning July 25 and lasting though August 4, the reign of daily afternoon SW "calls to rig" was quite welcoming given our meek summer wind pattern and lack of typical strong Bermuda High setups in June and early July. We had waited all summer for the BH and finally....

As a recap, I sailed 5 out of the 9 days which is not too bad given that the same week the BH arrived, I also had one of my busiest "day job" work weeks of the year. A client deadline, due today kept me glued to the computer banging out code during the morning and evening hours while I was able to catch a few afternoon hours to ride the wind. My lack of blog posts over the past two weeks is also attributed to the busy work schedule.

All in all, I caught some killer sessions both on the sound and in the ocean. Unfortunately, the surf was mostly flat during the course of the BH with only some short period wind swell wrapping the east facing beaches for wave riding. My first day, and last day, sailing the BH stretch, provided the best wavesailing. Sunday's sesh (Aug 1) at Caleb's new "secret spot" in Waves providing the best breaking wave I have sailed since mid-June.

Now, we are into August which is typically our "windless" month of the year. Who knows though...for what we lacked in June/early July, perhaps we will see in August?! If anything, I am hoping for more sessions to be on game for the Baja trip coming up at the end of the month!

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