Hatteras, Replay of Wednesday

Thursday 4/19/2012, Hatteras

Again above marginal winds were mainly from the NNW. Today it came up around 2:30 peaking at an estimated 25 mph by 6:00.

Sailed the 6.0 Ezzy Panther with the 109 and 101 liter RRDs. Others were on 5.4s to 7.0s.

Session: 3.5 hours of time on the water between 2:30 and 6:00.
To tired to continue to sunset.

Beers in the hot tube topped off this last Hatteras 2012 session. A low year

only sailing 4 out of 7 days.

Gear: 6.0 Ezzy Panther, 109 and 101 liter RRD FSWs.
Conditions: Fairly steady side shore winds with some smooth water insude the barge.

Weather: Air 60s, mostly cloudy sky, water 60s.
Wind: NNW up to 25 mph estimated.
Schooled:  Hero jibes, fast tacks heli-tacks, downwind 360s attempts.
Images: Sail Flow Data from Real, quiver of boards used through the week.
Video: Completing a downwind 360 and then topping it off by doing an upwind 360. Camera angle isn't quite right to get all the action.

Hatteras 4/18/2012 Wednesday

Wednesday 4/18/2012, Hatteras

 

Slightly above marginal winds were mainly from the NNW but marginal winds in Hatteras mean 6.0 or less. After waiting around most of the day it finally came up quickly around 4:30, peaking at an estimated 25 mph by 6:00.
Sailed 6.0 Ezzy Panther with the 109 and 101 liter RRDs.

Session: 2.5 hour of time on the water between 3:30 and 7:00.
Gear: 6.0 Ezzy Panther, 109 and 101 liter RRD FSWs.
Conditions: Fairly steady side shore winds with some smooth hero jibes water near the  barge.

Weather: Air 60s, mostly cloudy sky, water 60s.
Wind: NNW up to 25 mph estimated.
Schooled:  Hero jibes, fast tacks heli-tacks, downwind 360s attempts.
Images: SailFlow Data from Real.

Video: Hero Jibe past the barge and Heli-tack.

4/16/2012 Monday, Replay of Sunday

Monday 4/16/2012, Hatteras

Session: 5 hours of time on the water between 2:00 and 8:00 sunset.
Gear: 5.5 Ezzy SE, 4.5 Ezzy Freewave, 100 liter RRD and 85 liter JP FSW.
Conditions: Steady SW side onshore winds typical Hatteras.
Weather: Air 70s, bluebird sky, water 60s degrees.
Wind: SW up to 35 mph estimated.
Schooled: Everything
Images: Tuesday's SailFlow Data from Waves.

Sunday 4/15, First Day in Hatteras

Sunday 4/15/2012, Cape Hatteras

After a Fifteen and a half hour delirious drive to the Cape on Saturday April 14 the wind was kind enough to reward us for the brutal drive.
April 15, there is about 13 hours of daylight this time of year at the Cape out of the 13 hours 7 were on the water sailing today 5.5 with 100 liter to 4.5 85 liter board.
A gang of 8 sharing quarters in Rodanthe on the sound with happy results on our first day out.
Bright sunny day with steady SW winds to 35 mph on the water, made a one hell of a day.

The steady winds were mainly from the SW. It gradual built through out the day to sub 4.5 conditions
The 4.5 Ezzy Freewave handled it well.
The windsurfing crew were sailing 4.2s to 5.5s.

Session: 7.5 hour of time on the water between 9:30 and 8:30 PM.
Gear: 5.5 Ezzy SE and 4.5 Ezzy Freewave, 100 liter RRD and 85 liter JP FSW.
Conditions: Typical Hatteras, steady side shore winds.
Weather: Air 70s, mostly bluebird sky, water 60s degrees.
Wind: WNW up to 35 mph estimated.
Schooled: everything I know, Duck jibes, fast tacks heli-tacks, and some nice jumps.
Images: Waves SailFlow Data.

Instant Replay of Easter Sunday

MB's Rockin at the Lagoon

Monday 4/9/2012, Blue Lagoon

Arrived at Blue Lagoon about 3:30 only to see cloudy, calm conditions. Every where else was windy except the place where you want it to be windy - figure that one out.

Hung around and talked to the other desperadoes for awhile until more desperadoes showed up and then we all hung around talked for a while with our arms folded across our chests.

Finally the winds started whimpering and suddenly the sun came and all the caps were showing white caps. Hmmm...

Some guys rushed to rig big gear most of us played the wait and see game.

At the same time I rigged a 4.5 and a few unnamed guys laughed at me wondering WTF I was doing rigging such small gear.

I looked out and the big-riggers were visibly OPed, so I took that queue and headed out to a little light on the inside 4.5 conditions. After heading out 50 yards or so the steady trades hit me and I never looked back 2 hours of rockin the Laguna. Came in after 2 hours to add a little downhaul to my 4.5 to help with the tired arms then another half hour with the wind seemingly switching to a tad side off.

Almost as good as the Lagoon can get conditions for the second day in a row.

The mostly steady winds were mainly from the WNW. It came up quickly around 4:30, up to 35 mph estimated speed.
The 4.5 Ezzy Freewave handled it well.
The windsurfing crew of 8 t0 10 were sailing 4.2s to 5.5s.

Session: 2.5 hour of time on the water between 4:30 and 7:00.
Gear: 4.5 Ezzy Freewave, 85 liter JP FSW.
Conditions: Fairly steady side shore winds with small smooth swell in some spots.
Weather: Air 55s, mostly bluebird sky, water 50 degrees.
Wind: WNW up to 35 mph estimated.
Schooled: Same as previous post - catching up to where I left off late last season Duck jibes, fast tacks heli-tacks, and some nice jumps.
Images: Monday's SailFlow Data from across the Lake in Belle River.

Video: Hot off the web MB's Rockin the Laguna.

Happy Easter Sunday

Happy Easter Sunday 4/8/2012, Blue Lagoon

A short session between Easter brunch at my beautiful daughter's compound and dinner at my hospitable in-laws.
After leaving my daughter's house, getting home, loading up with minimum gear, driving to Blue Lagoon, (all lights were green and slow drivers moved out of my way without a toot or a flash). Arrived at the Laguna around 2:15 rigged the 4.5 with the 85 liter got the rubber on and got on the water by 2:30. Wam bam thank you mam...
Well worth the extraordinary effort of racing to and fro just for an hour and a half of TOW.
Felt good to burn off some excessive sugar calories and at the same time have some endorphins populate my bloodstream.
Much more confidence built up with this being my second session along with very comfortable air and water conditions. I didn't mind trying more difficult moves, knocking off some full planning ducks on both tacks with one very tight jibe in between the tight swell. The new board can be a tight forgiving turner, that is poor technique can still get you a nice tight jibe.

The mostly steady winds were from the WNW, 10 to 40 mph estimated speed.
The 4.5 Ezzy Freewave handled it well.
The normal crew were there sailing sub 4.5s to 5.5s.

Session: 1.5 hour of time on the water between 2:30 and 4:00.
Gear: 4.5 Ezzy Freewave, 85 liter JP FSW.
Conditions: Fairly steady side shore winds with small swell in some spots.
Weather: Air 60's, bluebird sky, water 50 degrees.
Wind: WNW up to 35-40 mph estimated.
Schooled: Catching up to where I left off late last season Duck jibes, fast tacks and some nice jumps.
Images: Gear of the day 4.5 Freewave, JP 85 and MB's action photo.