WIndsurfing Cape Hatteras, North Carolina April - May 2011,

Having been lucky enough to spend most of the months of April and May 2011 windsurfing around Cape Hatteras - Outer Banks area of eastern North Carolina, I thought a few photos of the area to highlight the month would be good. In addition to these check out my previous post on sailing at Canadian Hole, 11 April 2011.

Windsurfers and Kiteboarders enjoying the warm 20 knot South West winds in Rodanthe, North Carolina. (Photo by: Chuck Rhodes)

Typical Outer Banks Sound Side Rental Houses popular with windsurfers and Kiteboarders. They usually rent by the week and some can accommodate 10-15 people depending on number of bedrooms etc. (Rodanthe, North Carolina. Photo by: Chuck R)

Lone sailor ripping on the Pamlico Sound.
Rodanthe, N.C. Photo by Chuck R

Another sound side rental house complete with windsurfing trailers.
Photo by: Chuck R

Popular Outer Banks oceanside spot in SSW or SW winds offering good side off wave sailing - Ramp 30, just north of Avon, North Carolina. Photo by: Chuck R

The sand road or "ramp" leading from N.C. Highway 12 to Ramp 30. Its about 100 meters from the highway parking lot down the ramp to the beach. Photo by: Chuck R

Andy Mckinney riding his 2011 Tabou Da Curve 85 quad fin down the line at the
Cape Hatteras Light House. April 2011 . He is one of the local wavesailors and
owner of Wind N-C windsurfing shop in Avon, North Carolina and is an outstanding sailor.
Photo by: Chris Walton

Salt grass marsh and windsurfer and kiteboarders in the distance. Near Rodanthe, N.C.
Photo by: Chuck Rhodes

Looking southwest down the beach on South Hatteras Island where I often windsurf from our beach house there. Photo by: Chuck Rhodes

Nice waves breaking on our beach during three days of NE wind. Made for some great SUP surfing and an really fun side off windsurfing session the evening before while riding the Exocet Cross 117 and a 5.8.
Photo by: Chuck R

Water toy central at the Hatteras House.
Photo by: Chuck Rhodes

Another view of the lower level of the house, storage area, SUP/long board racks, windsurfing trailer and my trusty old Volvo. Photo by: Chuck R

No wind? Why not go deep sea fishing! Off shore charter fishing boats await their next journey out to the Gulf Stream off Hatteras in search of big game fish. Boats at marina on south Hatteras island.
Photo by: Chuck R

Canadian Hole, Cape Hatteras 11 April 2011

Warm, Strong SSW Winds at Canadian Hole
Photo by: Chuck Rhodes

Canadian Hole rocked today with 30-35knot SSW winds. Located just a couple miles south of Avon, North Carolina on the Pamlico Sound side of the famous Cape Hatteras Outer Banks, Canadian Hole is a popular windsurfing spot for all levels of windsurfers from beginner to expert. With the exception of a deep spot or "hole" just off the beach, the water is generally waist to chest high for several miles out into the sound. This makes for a great place for flat water ripping, bump & jump sailing, learning to windsurf, or just all around fun without deep water issues for less experienced sailors.

It is popular with Canadian windsurfers who tired of their cold, long winter, flock south to Hatteras to sail. Hence the name, "Canadian Hole". Of course sailors from all over the U.S. frequent the spot too.

On Monday 11 April 2011 I was lucky to catch a great high wind sailing day. Started out riding an Exocet Cross II 84 liter board with a 5.0 sail but quickly came back in and rigged down to a 4.5 in the ever increasing SSW winds. Soon I found myself putting max down haul into the sail and still getting overpowered. So came back in once again and rigged my 2006 Aerotech Charge 4.0 wave sail. This combo with the Cross 84 worked well for awhile and I was getting break neck speed out of the board and sail, even at 195 lbs and riding such a small board and sail. The Cross 11 84 is very fast, almost too fast when blasting through some of the rougher "psycho chop" sections in the shallower water but still never out of control.

Finally even the 4.o was getting too big. I thought about rigging down once again to 3.7 but my arms were like rubber and I was totally exhausted after 5 hours of sailing. So, I called it a day.
Despite being so physically tired I was mentally fired up from having such a great session. Lets do it again soon!
Here are some photos taken earlier in the day when it was only blowing 5.0!

Good winds,

Chuck

Unknown Sailor gets a good "chop hop" at the Hole.
Photo by: Chuck Rhodes

George Laam, Hampton Roads, Virginia area sailor, coming in happy from his first session of the day. Photo by: Chuck Rhodes

Canadian Hole parking lot. Photo by: Chuck Rhodes

Looking South along the beach at Canadian Hole Photo by: Chuck Rhodes

Custom Sail- Mast Roof Rack Quiver Box For Sale

Custom built aerodynamic shaped, Epoxy Composite Mast - Sail Quiver Box.

Hand built in Belgium in 2008 exclusively for windsurfing because I got tired of having no room in my car for anyone else to go with me due to the car being otherwise packed with windsurfing sails, masts, etc. Using the box I can carry 6-7 sails plus masts inside freeing up my right front passenger seat and lots of extra room inside the back.

The quiver box was four months in the making using epoxy, glass, and some carbon fiber, over a 4mm wood core. It is 10' long overall with 9'6"of inside usable space. It will carry sails up to 11.0 and masts up to 530cm long inside. Amazingly for its size it is only 38 pounds empty weight! Compare that to the 45-60 pound Tule and Yakima roof top boxes which are at least 2 feet shorter in length!! The rear rack attachment brackets can be extended to lift rear of box up off the rear roof rack allowing the car's rear hatch to fully open.

It is currently set up for the round bar Yakima racks with a 5' spread between front and rear racks. However, the box attachments can be altered to fit other rack systems.

Newly born with shiny new paint job. April 2008

Rear View - Note inside latch of key lock.

6-7 sails plus masts can be put inside!

Note the aluminum side brackets that lock the box to the rear roof rack bar but allow easy release.

Note the rear box lifted by the aluminum lift brackets to allow opening of the rear hatch of the car.

WINDSURFING TRAILER HERE!

After 5 years of talking about it, contemplating it, saving up $$, waiting for three years while living in Belgium, I have finally got my new windsurfing trailer. Its an E & J Custom Aluminum Trailer from Ontario, Canada. After a whirlwind drive up there to pick it up and back I got to use it yesterday.

I quickly added a 4th upper rack to hold booms, SUP/Kayak Paddles, and masts as well as put foam padding around each rack tube. I had to cut off the spare tire attachment bolt that they had the spare mounted to on the inside of the trailer as it was taking up vital board room.

I loaded up boards and gear using whatever tie-downs I had available but still have to develop a better permanent system. Not only that we were rewarded with a 25-30 knot warm SW wind day down on the North Carolina Outer Banks which offered great sailing despite the jellyfish stings. There were an unusual number in the water yesterday.

It was great to finally not have to have my car loaded to the gills with windsurf boards and gear. Plus accessing everything is so much easier too! So far I love it.


So now I am busy thinking of other modifications etc. but overall just glad it is finally here. Check out the below photos.

Good winds,

Chuck

Shipping Windsurfing Gear Overseas

Well, my windsurfing boards, sails, masts, booms, and roof top sail/mast carrier are now on their way back to the USA. They were packed up yesterday in a big 360cm long x 155cm wide x 155cm high overseas shipping box. Our Belgium moving company, Gosselin, built the box especially for the gear based on the dimensions of my longest board and the best width by height stacking requirement. Of course I spent several weeks pre-packing each board with bubble wrap and extra cardboard padding over the rails, decks and lower surface. Then all that went either back into the now very tightly fitted board bags or into windsurf board boxes.

For the sails I used the same big 12" and 14" diameter heavy cardboard shipping tubes with wood stringers and round plywood end plates. The sails got put inside each shipping tube and I also placed some of my bigger sails inside the rooftop sail/mast carrier that I built for my Volvo last year.

Once it was all packed in and the side put back on, with the top nailed down etc. it was good to know that everything should be safe inside for the long ship sea voyage home. Of course this box will be placed along with my other overseas shipping crates containing house hold items and furniture, into one of those big metal containers.

Still, it is difficult to watch your beloved windsurfing boards and gear get taken away in a big truck by someone else. Don't worry though, I do have each and every item listed on the shipment inventory!

Now, I just look forward to unloading it all back on the other side and finding everything safe, sound, and ready for Hatteras action.

Chuck

Windsurf boards, booms, masts, & sails waiting along with lawn tractor to be loaded up.

THE BOX!

Loading of THE BOX begins! Epoxy/Wood/ Glass - Roof top sail/mast carrier, pre-wrapped in cardboard, loaded first. Luckily it was built to take the weight.

The Goya Wave board goes in on top of sail shipping tubes.

Everything fully loaded, with some extra house hold stuff to fill up space, and side panel ready to go back on. Those "Dish Pack" boxes are what I used to wrap up my longboard.

"THE BOX" side gets sealed and nailed back on for the long journey across the Atlantic.