Ramp 49 Wave Sailing- The Redemption Sesh

My trip could not have ended much better.  I planned to spend most of the day SUP surfing at 49 again but when I paddled out the side-side-off WNW was creating a strong wind swell.  Dropping in on the wave was really tough since the wave was peeling left and into the wind- so that put the board across the NW chop and the nose floating on the air.  I didn't mention it in my previous Mana post but second nature took over a few times on Monday and I ran to the nose to get the drop.  Without traction the nose is like running on ice!  The nose was still slick so I certainly missed jumping on it in that head wind.

I rigged the 5.8 and the cross 106 again for my wave sailing redemption attempt.  I love side shore wind.  Though it was light and fluky as expected I was able to clear the impact zone pretty well 8/10 times and the bars were shallow enough at lower tide that I could beach start in some spots.  No denials this time.  The NW wind swell built up quickly so there was waist high checkering across the SE swell rolling in on the outside.  It made it challenging staying upwind, even on the outside, but between dogging it and some planing I always managed.  It made me appreciate sailing areas with dominant swell offering free shoulder rides into the wind.  On another note, there must have been a million jelly balls out there!  Inside, outside, middle tons of the darn things everywhere.  Every time I fell in I had 2 or 3 bumping into me.  I don't know if they sting but I had a full wetsuit on so I still can't say.  Unnerving.  Then there were the dolphin.  Lots of em and it always gives me a good vibe though I'm not sure why.  Every little thing helps when you are charging waves solo.

Speaking of waves, does Hatteras have the sneakiest waves anywhere or what?  Ramp 30 had a clear flat path out that suddenly was suddenly blocked by a head high top to bottom closeout.  Even the south side would do that.  More like waist to shoulder but I got put through the spin cycle head over heels by a few of them.  I was talking to Andy about it and he agrees it is the sharp bars that cause the swell to jack up so fast.  The swell will hide between bars in deep water and pounce on the poor soul trying to sneak out.  Ramp 49 added the new dynamic of SE swell hiding in the WNW.  When staging for the SE you had to keep a keen eye out for the money shot.  Where o where is it...  Ooh, pump pump!  Sometimes the wind gave power for the drop, sometimes not.  It just makes those times that you make it to the outer bar that much sweeter and the jibe out of that DTL wave ride that much more of a victory.

Denial Twist

I tried wave sailing solo at ramp 30 this morning.  It looked so sweet- big crumbling lefts on the outer bar.  Each time I tried to get out I was denied in exactly the same way at exactly the same spot.  The wind was light and side shore- blowing better on the beach than on the inside somehow.  I would punch through a couple white water areas, start to take a breath of relief since I was on my way and out of nowhere a head high top to bottom closeout would slam me!  If fully lit the 5.8/106L would have been the express route to the outside but the power was just not there.  Hopefully the fishermen next to me enjoyed the show.

Since the wind was so light I hit Ramp 49 again for some more time on the Mana.  Have I told you lately that I love the Mana?  The tide was low and rising again so the bars were similar to Sunday but better.  Beautiful peeling lefts on the outside with tubes!  Add in the first completely sunny day of the trip and zang, wave sailing blues gone.  A fellow NC surfer posted some good pics at Frisco too.

The higher tide wasn't working at 49 or bath houses so I headed up to old lighthouse.  The waves were huge compared to the southside and good grief what power.  Certainly more challenging paddling but still easy to get out.  It isn't often you have waves that big and it isn't hard to get out.  Yesterday it was a great high tide spot and I SUP surfed on the Mana until sunset.  Best of all my last ride of the day was the best of the day- long left on a head high with enough steam to keep me going until it reformed on the inner bar.  Stoke was plentiful. 

Oct 4th was another flat water day at the hole on 5.2/85L.  It was NW and I was well powered to marginal.  Stu and Ken came out after 5pm but the wind was falling off quickly by then.  What a sunset!

Mana Love and Wave Sailing at Old Lighthouse

I love the kick pad on the tail.  Chose some shore break with thigh to occasional shoulder high heavy break.  I couldn't believe what the nose of the Mana pulled out.  Never pearled and I don't know why.  Mana is money.

Wave Sailing at Old Lighthouse Beach-

Hit Lighthouse beach again in the evening.  Not as easy as yesterday and enough west to make it really weird on the inside.  Fun though!  Lots of locals came out.  Usually they make it look easy.  They did not make lighthouse beach look easy yesterday.  My experience is best described as prolonged panicky scrambling interrupted by brief periods of sheer bliss.

I did not keep my cool trying to water start in the huge holes.  My heart rate and breathing were not properly controlled and the sesh totally zapped me after the first 1.5 hours.  I was a little bummed that I missed sailing with all the local experts that arrived a few hours after Keith and I but was glad to come out none the worse for losing my focus.  The few waves I did ride made it no doubt worth the effort!

At Old Lighthouse Beach and The Hole

I started yesterday morning early at the Hole with Dale Bendula.  Stayed on the 5.8/106 all day.  Wind was NNE and a little up & down but fun as always.  It was a great oportunity to dial in my jibes on the 106 in chop and fluky wind.  My hand is healing well and no major sail handling problems!  Dale took a break to cut the grass and Ken from Wind NC drove up.  He was on Andy's 5.2/twin freestyle.  The wind filled in nicely a little and we had a ball when Ken was planing easily.  We also traded rigs since I had a 5.8- wow was there a big difference between the old Ezzy wave and the new Gaastra IQ.  The Gaastra was flatter when not powered and much more crisp.  The old wave sail has much more low end grunt but not nearly as smooth in transitions.  Not as easy to clear the clew either.  

I got the message too late but Keith M and Olaf scored a fun sesh at the lighthouse.  I stopped by to wach for about 45 min and it looked big and fairly easy.  I was zapped and cramping already so I didn't rig.  Maybe today!  Keith has the blue sail.  Wish I had a better camera.

Last night Andy at Wind NC put on a sail clinic for the Raleigh crew.  They have over 20 new members this year and tons of stoke!  It is awesome to see all the excitement from new and senior members.  Great group.  Andy does a great job with these clinics and there's great info for new and experienced sailors.  Good times.