2008-07-21

No Access at the Cove...The Price to Catch It!

UPDATE: 7/22/2008 Keith M, guest blogging on Lost in Hatteras, recounts his Cristobal Cove session. Great read!

I just read Andy's post on Lost in Hatteras regarding Cristobal's visit yesterday, its offering of an epic Cove session, and the price to get there now that we do not have access to that beach. Keith and Caleb caught it, and that is awesome; however, the risks to get there could have been high, if the unpredictable nature of tropical weather turned foul for them. As Andy mentioned, there is no shelter out there if conditions deteriorate. With no legal access to the sand/beach, you are on your own with regard to what happens on the water. True, the risk does fall on the sailor, and really if they go for it and something dire happens, they are on their own. Yet it does seem fairly ridiculous that we do not even have walking access along that stretch of coastline. If life and limb depended upon it, would you come into the beach or stay off shore and attempt to come in on an open stretch of beach which could be a few miles away?

All in all, some silver lining in this issue is that movement may be happening at the Federal level to open up our access. I found this recent article noting NC Congress(wo)men introducing legislation to reinstate the "Interim Management Strategy" governing off-road vehicle use on Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Perhaps, we will be able to drive out to catch a future Cove session..., or if not drive, can we at least walk?!

4 Comments:

At 4:16 PM, Blogger Andy said...

I don't mind sailing to the Cove, on the rare non-stormy SE day... The thing that got me about yesterday- it was the kind of day where we all used to drive out there, rig our favorite sail, hide in our trucks during the storms, and then sail our butts off for an hour in-between the downpours... Frustrating to miss that session.

 
At 7:44 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

A blessing in disguise?Ive had some the most memorable days of my life sailing/surfing the cove,but this last sesh will def stay with me forever.before the closure sailn the cove was like going to a crazy string party with kite lines, fishn lines everywhere.this last session was just me and another guy with some awesome waves,very rare session.selfish as this might sound...let the bridge fall in the water,and keep the cove closed to everyone who cant wave sail and let me sail peeling waves sans kiters and fisher!

 
At 8:41 AM, Blogger George Markopoulos said...

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080713/NEWS/807130339/1217/COMMUNITIES02

Looks like we're headed the same way up here at my favorite wave sailing spot at Assateague state park. Granted, I believe this only will impact driving on the beach, for now.

 
At 4:11 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Might be too late but I just e-mailed my senators and rep in Maryland to support the proposed legislation.

I didn't demand returning vehicle access but protested the total elimination of HUMAN access right up to the water for miles at a stretch.

 

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