Conditions this week did not disappoint. Following are each day's conditions listing sail size, board size in liters, wind direction, temperature of air & water, time of day sailed, wetsuit used. * = Excellent-quality, steady-wind away from shore.
Sun - 6.7m 129L SW 75/74F PM shorty
Mon - 6.7m 98L* W 80/76F PM no wetsuit
Tue - No wind, walk beach, swim
Wed - 5.2m 84L* AM, 5.7m PM W 76/75F no wetsuit
Thu - 5.7 & 5.2m* 98L NE 62/73F PM long wetsuit
Fri - 6.7m 98L* NE 60/67F Mid-day long wetsuit
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Barrett
It's all relative: Forecast there is "Breezy"= 26-30 mph. It's not "Windy" until over 30. "Very Windy" is 36-40, gusting to 55 :shock: Put the deck furniture away & hold on tight Barrett!
Let's see some photos of the ocean. I see "hurricane force winds" forecast.
The first three weeks were incredible and the start of week 4 promised to be even more amazing. However, on Sunday a Northeaster developed into a storm so intense, it was named Andrea. In Nags Head, Atlanta windsurfers Marcel & Adam joined Ron, Marty, & myself in the morning on our smallest sails. For the first couple of hours we had a great time sailing gale-force winds, but as the storm increased in intensity, we were blown off the water. In Nags Head the wind increased to 40 gusting over 50 mph - too much to windsurf.
At times the wind was so high our house rocked in the gusts. South of us the roads were flooded by ocean water, stranding folks in Rodanthe, Avon & Hatteras.
We attempted to walk the beach during the Northeaster, but were sandblased to the point that we couldn't keep our eyes open, even with glasses on. Wave spray and blowing blobs of foam filled the air. The ocean was solid white almost to the horizon. Luckily the storm hit at a time of low tide, so property damage in Nags Head was minimal.
This is the first time we haven't been able to sail for two days straight due to high winds. I heard from Jeep & Ann that water was blown out of Pamlico Sound around Rodanthe & Waves, exposing the bottom. Following the storm, the normal seabreeze hasn't returned, so today is calm with alternating periods of sun and fog. The forecast isn't encouraging, but we hope for a last blast tomorrow afternoon before packing and heading home.
Barrett