"Bottle this. Serve it to me hot or cold. I'll have it any time."
Thus spake Steve after a stellar Hatteras Wednesday. Sunny, warm and windy, it was the kind of day you imagine when you're planning an OBX windsurfing trip and dreaming of how great it could be. An October day spent ripping on five meter sails wearing just a bathing suit is outstanding.
First thing in the morning we were treated to a rainbow, which Jeff declared an omen. An hour later the first whitecaps appeared, and we all ran out on 7 meter sails, as the forecast called for morning winds only. As it built, Brewster decided that he wanted to run speed trials on his JP 109. With GPS on wrist he sailed out and upwind to the reef (3 miles) and tore ass downwind on the return, ultimately winding up his board to 31 knots (quite fast for a freestyle board!) Then he'd do it again. And again. As the wind continued to build Brew finally switched to 5.8, and switched his focus from speed to a duckjibing frenzy. Near sunset, with holes in his hands and nothing left in his arms he checked his GPS: He'd windsurfed 80 miles. That would take you from the Outer Banks to the mainland and back, and still leave 20 miles to play with.
Coming from the opposite end of the spectrum was Jeff. Jeff has had Vulcans and other new-school freestyle on the brain since ABK's freestyle clinic in Napeague last month. So while Brewster was lit on big gear, Jeff emulated guru Andy Brandt, and sailed his freestyle board with a 4.2 and my stubby freestyle fin, planing and skidding around the Pamlico Sound all day.
Steve has not been getting his MDR of windsurfing this year, so the first thing he did Wednesday morning was purchase a large weed fin, to make sure he could maximize his time on the moderate winds we'd expected (weeds have been light but there). "One thing I won't be doing with this is sailing with a 5.5," he pronounced, noting its size.
One hour later he was happily eating those words, flashing the blade while working the Pamlico chop for all it was worth.
For myself I had two goals for the day:
1. Hit my first in-the-straps 360.
2. Blow off the water the Limey bastard next door who'd been passing me all the day previous.
The 360 came...three of them, actually. The trick seems to be getting my weight over the carving rail ala a tight jibe while not bringing the back knee forward into the turn (the knee bone being attached to the shin bone, to the foot bone, to the foot strap...) I'm not quite sure how to go about it, but I did hit a few. More study is indicated.
Re the neighbor (who is a very nice guy, actually, except for the bit where he passes me) the best I did was hold position against him on the straightaway. I passed him in every jibe (EVERY jibe!) but on the straightaways he is, um...well...faster. I hate him.
That night a large thunderstorm came through. The day started with a rainbow, and ended with lightning. It was just too good.
(Top: The omen. At one moment we actually had a double rainbow.
Middle: Speed King Brewster takes a rare break. Hanging out in the Carribean warm waters was nice.
Bottom: Michael, mid 360.
Photos by Jeff.)
How warm is the water? No wetsuits????? Even though we are at the same latitude as Cartagena in Spain our water will kill you within 15 minutes. Damn that Alaska current!
Posted by: Joe Rouse | October 27, 2007 at 12:54 PM
Great stuff! Glad you're having such a good time. Here we have wind and sand from the Sahara and visibility and humidity really bad. This morning could not even see half way across the bay! Keep up the 'foot in straps 36o'. I'm sure once you have done one (or more) they will just keep on coming. Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy! (Especially without the women!!!!! Bet you miss them really!?!) Just having a jibe at you!
Posted by: Bunty | October 27, 2007 at 02:19 PM
Joe, the Outer Banks are in the Gulf Stream...check out this marine map of the outer banks for the water temps. Much warmer than Long Island or the Bay area.
Bunty, I'll go back to the 360's (and the rest of my limited freestyle repertoire) in the spring when I'm back in warmer waters (just returned home, where falling is chilly.) It's officially bump and jump season now. Can't wait to see my spectacularly beautiful and wonderful wife, who returns from her own trip tonight!
Posted by: Michael | October 28, 2007 at 09:21 AM
Michael, The house with the green roof in the rainbow picture is the one I was in last Fri Oct 19- Sun 21st. Wish I had known you were over there so close....would have come over to say hello and introduce myself. Sounds like you guys had a great week. Dang..I love that place! Mac
Posted by: Mac | October 28, 2007 at 08:15 PM
Sorry to have missed you, Mac. I did get to meet Bill Bell (Bill's OBX Beach Life), and Jeff (Windsurfing the East End) was in our house. Could have been a blogging summit!
Posted by: Michael | October 29, 2007 at 10:35 AM