Hatteras report

[mikeyz]

Wow Gary, that sounds amazing. I think you should keep sailing. After 7 or 8 days of wind I think it would have broken you if it can break you. And it hasn't so keep going.

Over the weekend I had two days of 4.4 and 86L. I'm getting things more and more tuned up with my own gear and having lots of fun watching some of the other guys. The level of the other sailors on the water is more insane than anything I've ever seen. It is so much more insane when you see it in person. Imagine someone overpowered doing a forward loop and planning out of it, then a grubby, and then a duck tack all within a 200ft reach. I guess you can get pretty good if you get 200 days of 5.0 for 10 years straight. It really blows my mind and it is also pretty inspiring for me. On sunday I got my first planning jibe on the 86L, my first switch stance (Rick, Joe H. style) jibe, and almost got a duck jibe. That is Candlestick for you though - offshore wind and smooth as butter.

- Z

[gwind]

Hey Mike, You young guy getting some "skills". Very cool to be in a scene with so many to learn so much from. interesting day here yesterday. Finally a light wind day. One of those days when it really pays to be a short guy. I had 2 1/2 hours of light wind constant planing on the formula board with Mikey's 8.5. thanks so much for leaving it behind.
I'm pretty sure I saw Rick in the distance getting his kite lesson from Dick. It was the right wind for that for sure.
I then got inspired by the practicing freestylers to put my 5.6 on 101 liters and practice helitacks and backwind sailing while watching this one guy practice throwing his rig down towards the water and into the wind just right for it to bounce back up off the wind in to his hands. Whew! There's some skill indeed.
Ah but to stay another month and migrate to the Gorge with Olaf and back in the Fall before Baja for the winter. Jus' gotta dream.

Here's the first total no wind day. Bike ride right now before lunch and SUP out by the Avon pier this aft in the "little bumps" as Andy calls them.

One more day tomorrow with a fair wind forecast. I'm hoping for a reasonable 5.3 or so day then I'll head back and see you folks on Ontario this weekend by the looks of it.

Bringing the breeze on home.

[gwind]

Ahh, time for the last report from my Hatteras trip. Sunny day in the mid 80's. light am breeze and time for an 1 1/2 hour SUP ride. Very sweet and calming for the last big packing and stopping in on folks to say goodbye before the afternoon wind came up.
Yum, out of the public axcess launch at Salvo. Must have been 40 kiters and a dozen windsurfers. That seems to be the proportions all around here. Nicely shared launch site and oh my, the truly sweetest smoothest sailing of the whole trip.

I started with an hour on 101 liters with my 6.2 and the next 3.5 hours on the same board with 5.6. For some reason hardly any chop. Smooth smooth smooth...
I can feel it!! I can feel those planing gybes!!
I got a few and stumbled through dozens more but I can feel it!! I've got hope.

Gotta pack. Away home in the early hours.

See ya out there.
Gary