Can you plane in this? No, Seriously? Really!?

Have I told you lately that I love my formula board? I headed to the lake for an after work sesh planning to paddle and catch what boat wakes I could surf. I tossed the old Exocet L99 on the trailer just for the comfort of having it around and letting it get some fresh air. I paddled out towards the dam- low and behold there was a slight NE wind cutting across that I didn't see from the launch... So I tossed the idea of rigging the 9.5 back and forth for a while. I rigged. Then I decided it wasn't enough to plane. I paddle back out as before having no trouble paddling into the wind, but changed my mind yet again.

I uphauled in the glass of the cove caught the wrap around and sailed into weather. Oh Boy! I forgot what that kit can do. It was in the straps planing for over 2 hours. I'll just go ahead and say that N is absolutely the best direction once the leaves are on the trees. It wasn't gusty, the direction was between NW - NE and not a hint of a whitecap anywhere. Ahh, the sweet flat water jibes. Even in wind so light paddling the SUP wasn't a problem the formula kit shined. Sure the Summerfield wind meter may not represent what exactly was happening at Belews but it typically isn't far off. I sure needed that- some surprise stoke after a long wait.

So after couple hours in the straps when I fell of the plane I got back on the SUP and started playing in the boat wakes. Lots of folks out since the weather turned so perfect- for anything. When the boats where in their slips I fished a bit on the SUP. Caught one nice white perch and missed a few hits. Yep I'm loving formula windsurfing and SUPing.

How about some comments or thoughts on formula boards? I'd like to hear some opinions on why you have or will never have one. There is only so much long distance flat water paddling you can do before you're ready for something else. By the way, check out this vid of FW in really light stuff when I first got my exocet L99.

Waterman's (or Waterperson's?) Delight

Summer is certainly coming on fast. Of course with it goes the inland wind. Apart from some fun formula windsurfing on glassy water it has been lots of SUPing lately. When all the party barges, jet skis & bASSmasters clear out during the week things settle down and get quiet so I love throwing the good old fashioned poppin bug from my SUP board. It is the simplicity that is so attractive. I can get out during the week, put in a few miles paddling hard for a good workout and then fish from sunset till dark. For those who have not had a proper dose of southern culture the poppin bug is a little floating lure that you can fish kinda like a fly. The bass and bream love it- as do I!

Leah and I paddled for one of the longest seshes ever Saturday. It was sunny and hot so it was perfect for playing in the water and surfing boat wakes along the way. We put in at the club launch and paddled to our friends place at Humpheys Ridge following the lake shore. Leah is doing so well I'm completely amazed! I jumped on the Bic Bamba and she took the Starboard Drive with the cushy deck and wave rocker. On the way back we traded off to give my feet a rest and she paddled that narrow longboard all the way back through the boat traffic without a fall! I caught a few good wakes and got some good down-wind type rides in the swell. Me thinks another SUP is in our future...

I have to admit I'm jealous of Mac, Mark & Rob at the Coastal Urge SUP Cup. I think all of the lake Norman crowd did well. Mac raced with his daughter and Mark raced his new flat water rocket. This could be the perfect thing for a couple- Leah won't get in the waves but I bet she would love the SUP Cup action. Anyone selling a SUP with a mast track that will work for Leah...?

Bermuda High Wind- 4 days in Hatteras

I took no video, no pictures and few breaks. I arrived Friday afternoon and sailed the 106L/5.2 until dark. Saturday & Sunday the wind was light early and filled in as the day went on. However Sunday and Monday the higher wind came earlier in the day each day and was stronger by sunset. I spent the majority of my sailing Saturday - Monday on the 85L with the 4.2 & 3.5 I sailed with Don Wrenn and Lou Sunday- by sailed with I mean tried to keep up. The dominant SSW turned more SW Monday making for much cleaner swell in the hole.

It turns out the insanity at lake Waccamaw prior to Hatteras was an excellent warm up for sailing overpowered in psycho chop at the Hole 4 straight days. I felt really good about my overpowered short board jibes despite coming to Hatteras with a bum right arm. It was a wonderful time. 4 straight days of SW and the biggest thing I rigged was a 5.2 You gotta love Hatteras.

Distraction #74

I grew up in one of those places that isn't known for much more than just being on the way to somewhere else. My parents and sister still live in Chadbourn NC so I still visit a bit. My plans for a trip to Hatteras got dashed due to some health issues in the family so I hit highway 74 to Chadbourn last friday. Lake Waccamaw is off 74 if you keep heading east past Whiteville. I took some gear just in case we got a little of the S wind in the extended forecast. Good thing too.

Sunday morning storms blew through pretty early. The S wind kicked in and picked up into the early afternoon. After some visiting I launched at the N end of the lake at Dales on a 5.2 There were some pretty big rollers coming in but I likely missed the highest wind from late morning/lunch. It was coming down as I rigged for my sister and myself. We struck out into the swell and some gusty S wind for a beautiful afternoon of sailing. She did great with the 3.5 on the GO (she loves the GO) and handled the rough conditions really well for her first time in the swell. She's past ready for the harness. Eventually I rigged the 5.8 and stayed pretty well powered. 5.2 & 5.8 on an inland lake is epic as far as I'm concerned. We stayed until after dark. Wonderful day.

Monday was forecasted to be the big day. WSW 20-30mph. Dales isn't the ideal spot for W so after more morning visiting I headed south to Carl's place near Big Creek. I've played volleyball with Carl "The Truth" for years. Great guy. That launch just works for SW around to NNW. My mom came out with me to take pics and watch- otherwise it was solo bump-n-jump from Big Creek to the state park shore. The trick is to launch in a spot that is side-on. The swell from the main lake acts just like ocean swell on the bars- side-on swell rolls at an angle to the wind making excellent ramps. Dead downwind you get the steep, pitching wave with whitecaps. Fun for some poor mans wave riding in either case. After about an hour and half on the 5.2 it was 4.7 madness on the 106L board until dark. I really needed the 85L board but didn't have it as usual. Mac and I had an amazing 7.5 sesh at Canadian Hole while down for the Windsurf Mag 2010 board tests. He pushed me to take deeper downwind angles than ever before. I did some of this on the 106L board too. Wow. I actually had a stiff neck after that full day of wild riding. My sister got off work a little early and took some great shots too. I hope you enjoy.

Epic Bump & Jump Sesh at the Big Creek Launch from r d moore on Vimeo.

Swell Shortboard Seshes & Formula In Swell at Dales Seafood

A Couple Awesome Belews Rides

Well I may as well start with current events. What an excellent week to be conscious, huh? It was a trifecta baby! Summer air temps, water warm enough for trunks and WIND. I hit Belews twice this week. Wednesday was an AHD diamond race / 7.5 day with Barry and Oscar. After the formula board the AHD now feels like a stick... lots of fun, still early planing and easy to carve on the plane. Thursday was a solo sesh at Belews. I knew the South wind had been cycling up and down but rigged the 7.5 and the 106L cross. It has been too long since I got some vids so I lashed on the GoPro too.


So I struck out nicely powered to start a gorgeous sunny day sesh. After a while the wind started ramping up a bit so I cam in and grabbed my impact vest. After additional ramping I then rigged the 5.8. The rest of the afternoon was pretty much equal parts 7.5/5.8 all on the cross. If I had another gopro it would be sweet to see the 5.8 conditions since the lake builds swell so quickly. At any rate it was wonderful to spend all day on the shortboard in the lake.

Lake Waccamaw Sesh


Last weekend I sailed with Leah and my sister at Lake Waccamaw. We launch at Dale's and I could not believe how warm it already was! Trunks were the call for sure. Leah rigged the AHD/5.2 and Jennifer used the SUP/5.8 I rigged the 9.5/formula just in time to catch the light S wind. I was perfectly powered but as time passed the swell got bigger. That lake is 5 miles across for S wind and I was on the down wind shore. Even the light breeze makes for white caps coming up on the eastern shore. Part of the time I ran slalom style- dodging the peaks and aiming for troughs to keep from pearling the windward rail. Otherwise it was just relentless money shots in the face and up the nose!(eh Josh?) The other part of the time I was wave riding. Sheeted out but still planing and riding the swell. I just couldn't get over how little wind there actually was for the size of those waves... definitely a first for me in those conditions but still tons of fun till dark.



2010 Hatteras Board Tests

Finally I participated in the Windsurf Magazine 2010 board tests at Hatteras. Thanks to Mac for hooking me up! Josh Sampiero drove up from Florida with a box truck full of 2010 gear. I rolled into Avon on Thursday and met Josh at Andy's new shop Windsurf NC where they were putting foot straps on some 2010 boards. Josh showed me the gear in the truck and I got so excited I was prancing around like a little school girl :D Rob already was in town and at the house so after a stop there we hit Canadian hole. After putting on all fins and straps we starting sailing boards. And boy did we sail. If that wasn't enough have new boards Stu came up and rigged new North sails for us.


We sailed Frisco Woods lit all day on a 4.2, the Buxton slick lit on a 5.2, and Canadian hole lit on everything from 8.0 down to 3.5 It suffices to say it is the best wind I've had yet on a week at Hatteras. I'm more stoked in 2010 than ever. Here is Josh at Canadian hole.

March Madness

I've been so hoping to get conditions to use my 85L RRD FSW. That opportunity came Friday at Canadian hole. After a morning/afternoon of sailing bigger gear for the 2010 Windsurfing Magazine board test in warm light WSW the weather took quite a turn. It is amazing how weather patterns can change on the banks. The front made its way down from the north and the edge was an abrupt change from bright blue sky to swirling dark grey clouds. The NE wind came in like a fighter jet. Lucky Andy gave us the heads up in advance of the front so we derigged the bigger gear and stowed the boards. Stu actually headed out with a big board and a 7.5 as the wind began its swing- he had to body drag his way back in and even Josh had to help the rest of the way. It was a team effort to wrestle in that big kit in that kind of wind.

After a brief delay due to a water spout near Avon we all hit the water with the smallest kit we had. In my case a 3.5 and 85L board. Overpowered is not the word. I would have paid cash for a 65 or 70 liter that afternoon. Awesome. First time on my 3.5 too. I hit some but not all of my jibes on port and starboard. Big jumps with lots of spray on the lands. Good times.

STOKEsdale Side Shore Action, 75F

Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the windsurfing world lies a small unregarded little lake. Yesterday that little lake saw temps in the mid 70s and a south wind. Afternoon average was 10mph! Err, wait. Huh? Sucks right? Nope. My highest yielding investment yet is still paying dividends. My formula board and 9.5 renders light wind into pure stoke. I added Dakine core contours for the back straps this winter and am very pleased with the results. Easy access even with boots. Adjustable outhaul is sweet too. Leah rigged the 5.2 and the SUP for some fun longboard action. She can actually point higher sub-planing that I can on the FW kit. It is also a lot of fun in the swell from the boat wakes. If the companies ever come up with a SUP that surfs AND planes I'll have to invest there too. Talk about having your cake, eating it and having more cake...

We finished the day with a little paddle out to the islands and back. I grabbed an old Bic longboard out of the container and she kept the SUP. I forgot how tippy the old longboards are but boy are they fast in a straight line. We don't have any mosquitoes yet so I'm just going to have to call it perfection.