Windsurfing Magazine

kristin
2000-04-01 19:00:00 | 1198 views | 1 Comments

The Hatteras experience is different for every windsurfer who visits the island. Countless combinations of windsurfing sites, accommodations and no-wind activities are more than enough to keep any traveling windsurfer busy for weeks. The locals windsurf year-round in a temperate climate, but the biggest crowds show up in spring and fall. There's windsurfing for everybody, from beginner to seasoned wave sailor. The waters are shallow, allowing sailors to venture miles into the Pamlico Sound and still be in waist- to chest-deep water.

If it's waves you're after, Hatteras can't be beat. While other East Coast spots have their days on particular wind directions, they're often junky or completely unsailable if the wind shifts. Hatteras has side or side-off, down-the-line wave-sailing spots for every wind direction on the compass. All you need is a solid four-wheel-drive vehicle, an air gauge that reads less than 20 psi and a local as your guide. There are spots for small swells, spots for big swells, north-wind locations, south-wind locations. You can even sail port and starboard conditions on the same day!

Where Are the Waves?
Don't be one of those sailors who refuses to check out any place other than Canadian Hole. There are numerous spots that blow it away. Although the storms of winter might have changed the breaks, here's a short list by wind direction of what was pumping last year.

When It's Blowing N or NW: Anywhere from Salvo to Canadian Hole. When the wind has a little west in it (NNW), we look for where the dunes are low with no houses. Generally the wind fills in on the inside. On big swells, the outside breaks near Avon are often very good, but the wind tends to be light on the inside.
NNE or NE: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Windsurfers sail downwind off the first jetty right in front of this historic landmark. It's good on small to medium swells. If the wind has too much north, it'll be blocked by the land and lighthouse. If the swell is too small to make it work, check farther north for better waves. If the swell is too big, check on the south side (Frisco Bath House, Hatteras turnout or Hatteras Inlet). If the wind is northeast with big swell, it'll likely be side-off, lined up and peeling!

E or SE: The Cove. The Cove is located on the south side of the point. Strong east or southeast winds produce side-off or sideshore conditions and long ridable waves (port-tack jumping and starboard riding). This can be the longest wave on the island. It's often good very early in the morning or it can be wait-and-see all day. Those who sit out there in the pouring rain often end up scoring big when the skies clear and the wind fills in.

S: South winds are normally a tough one because you never know if they're going to stay south or go southwest. If they're staying south, head north to the Boiler, north of Rodanthe. It'll be side-off there with good riding and jumping. Those not wanting to travel can stay in Avon and sail right behind their oceanfront houses. Ego Beach across from the Hole can be good, but the current will be strong with the wind. These latter spots will become cleaner and more side-off as the winds shift west.

SW: Southwesterlies are common in the spring and summer and a Hatteras classic. If the waves are small, check out north of Avon to Salvo. These spots are forgiving to first-time wave sailors. Ego Beach can also be good for beginner wave sailors if the waves are small because you can carry your rig from the sound to the ocean. If the waves are medium or big, check out Ego Beach, Old Road, the Point or Outside Avon for big waves.

W: Down to the south side again. West winds are sideshore there. Check Frisco Airport, Cape Hatteras Campground (during WNW), Frisco Bath House, Hatteras Turnout or Hatteras Inlet. If the wind has a little north to it, get away from tall dunes and buildings for better breeze inside. West winds often blow themselves out ickly, so get on it early.

NW: You can sail port and starboard conditions on this wind direction. For those who like starboard jumping, head out behind Cape Hatteras Campground to the east of Frisco Airport. It'll be side-off there with good riding and jumping. For port-tack conditions, head north to the Boiler or Oregon Inlet. Both of these spots are side or side-off in northwesterlies. These winds often peak early in the morning and die by noon, so hit it at dawn.

Getting Sleepy?
Here's a list of places to stay depending on what kind of Hatteras windsurfing crew you're traveling with.
Group of Sound Sailors: Rent a house on the sound and sail it every second you can. You can leave everything rigged and jump in the hot tub while still wearing your wetsuit. Top picks are Island Creek behind Windsurfing Hatteras and the houses on the ends of Bluefish and Weakfish Courts behind Sailworld. Also, Port Avon is a new development with three sound-front houses. Call Hatteras Realty at 800-428-8372. You can also check out there Web site at www.hatterasrealty.com. Make sure to confirm that your house is sound-front and not on a canal leading to the sound.

Single or Couple Sound Sailors: The Inn on Pamlico Sound in Buxton does a wonderful job for windsurfers (www.innonpamlicosound.com).  Their phone number is 252-995-7030.the Inn on Pamlico Sound in Buxton does a wonderful job for windsurfers (www.innonpamlicosound.com). 

Group Looking for Oceanfront: The oceanfront homes in Avon are some of the nicest found anywhere in the country. If you're with a large group and want to go big, this is where to go. The wave sailing both north and south of the pier (Avon's dividing line) is excellent, but the surfing is normally better north of the pier. Call Hatteras Realty at 800-428-8372 or Surf or Sound Realty at 800-237-1138.

Single or Couple Looking for Oceanfront: Your best bet is the Lighthouse View Motel in Buxton. This is my favorite place to send guests when my house is overflowing because then I can hang out over there. It's a three-story oceanfront just north of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and only 1 mile from Canadian Hole. Excellent rooms and efficiencies, cocktail decks for happy hour, pool and party-size hot tub. Excellent surfing, wave sailing, beach walking and fishing right out your door. Go to the third floor for the best rooms and views. Call 800-225-7651.

Camping: Almost every Hatteras first-time story revolves around staying at the Frisco Woods Campground. Beachfront campsites on the sound allow you to stay rigged and ready to go. Owner Ward Barnett is a cool guy and is into having windsurfers stay at his place. He puts on a fun event in April called Windfest, which is a one-week windsurf party. Call  800-948-3942.

Guy or Girl Week: There are tons of cheap houses for rent when you're not trying to impress anyone. If it's all about surfing, sailing, drinking beer and nothing else, then you can get places that usually rent out for about $125 a week per person for four people. They're normally several houses back from the ocean or sound, not new, but clean and offering a great value for a quality roof over your head. Any realty company in Hatteras has access to these bargain accommodations.

Busted Gear?
Hatteras has a tendency to bust your stuff. Here's a list of places to get mended before the next blow begins.
Board Repair: Fox Watersports in Buxton does all of the island's board repair.  Fox is the hangout in town for local sailors. Fox's owner Ted “Elder Man” James is the quintessential authority on Hatteras weather and wave sailing. He can recite past weather and conditions like an almanac. Fox Watersports (www.foxwatersports.com) can be reached at 252-995-4372.

Sail Repair: Hatteras Island Wind Gear in Avon next to the Dairy Queen does excelle
nt sail repair. Owner Peter LeWando has put thousands of Hatteras-beaten rigs back on the water. He builds his own sails and takes extreme care in fixing yours. He'll also offer an honest opinion of whether you should fix your sail or pitch it.  Call 252-995-4819.

New to the sail-repair scene on Hatteras are continental explorers Margaret Nold and Olaf Podehl. Margaret and Olaf live year-round in their van and split the time between Cape Hatteras in spring and fall, the Gorge in summer and Baja during winter. Last summer was spent under the wing of Northwave's sail designer Blake Richards, yielding them a new quiver and a new trade - sail design and repair. You can find them directly behind The Froggy Dog restaurant in Avon.

Bodies: After a near-death experience with a burst appendix last year, I have only one thing to say: If it's serious, get off the island. The first day of pain, local medical people said I had gas. Day 2 they said I had stomach acid. On the third day, they said it was my pancreas or my liver. That night, my appendix burst and I went to Elizabeth City (two hours away) to have the scraps taken out. I ended up with peritonitis (full abdominal cavity infection). For minor problems like cold, flu, stitches or small broken bones, try Healtheast Avon - 252-995-3073.  New hospital in Nags Head:  Outer Banks Hospital, Mile Post 14.  252-449-4500.

What Do You Mean It's Not Blowing?
Hatteras winds usually come in several-day spurts and then take a break for a few days, so it's a good idea to have alternatives lined up for when and if the wind dies.

Surf: Hatteras has some of the most consistent surf breaks on the East Coast. See Fox Watersports or Natural Art Surf Shop in Buxton for rental boards and surf info. Natural Art's phone number is 252-995-5682.

Wakeboard: If the wind is off, like glass to the horizon, wakeboarding in Pamlico Sound or even in the ocean can be a blast. You'll need a boat or Waverunner for the tow. Both of these can come in handy for fishing or clamming as well. Waverunners can be had behind Windsurfing Hatteras at the north end of Avon.

Golf: There's a nine-hole course in Frisco and several more quality 18-hole courses an hour north in Nags Head (Nags Head Links is excellent) and Corrolla. There's also a driving range in Currituck on your way on or off the island.

Fishing: Cape Hatteras is regarded as one of the best places in the world for surf fishing. There are countless tackle shops to set you up with gear and point you in the right direction. You can also charter an offshore boat ($500 to $800 for the day for you and five of your wealthy friends).

Kayaking: Nature lovers can take a guided eco-tour in the Pamlico Sound, while the daredevils in the group can rent surf kayaks and brave the Atlantic waves. Those looking to burn some real energy can go for the distances. On Pamlico Sound, you can kayak from Windsurfing Hatteras to Soundside Restaurant on a light northerly wind or vice versa on a southerly wind. The sunset during these trips can be insane. On flat ocean days, a trip from the south end of Avon to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse can show you some of the sea life that frequents the area.

Golf can be found at Frisco's 9 hole golf course, Ocean Edge Golf Course (252-995-4100).
Go-Cart Racing and Miniature Golf: For the amusement freaks, there's a natural-grass mini-golf course at the Avon Pier that's open day and night. And there's a huge go-cart track in Rodanthe. There is also New Go-cart Mini-Golf in Frisco.