Hurricane Bill Wave Report, OBX - Its a Wrap!
The swell from Hurricane Bill came and left offering some of the best summertime OBX surf in recent memory! What began Thursday with initial swell beginning to show on the southern beaches and key sand bar breaks in Rodanthe/Waves, lasted though today and likely into the early part of this coming week. Friday afternoon experienced some of the best surf conditions from the storm swell, especially along the bar line at Coquina Beach in south Nags Head. For me, that was the key day as I was on the water light air wavesailing from 2:30pm though 6:00pm with so many fun waves caught. Weather conditions were perfect, and it was simply the best of the best for OBX summer tropical surf.
Saturday, we experienced the brunt of the storm swell with huge outside surf and a brutal inside bar break. Simply getting out past that inner bar was the real challenge on Saturday. Winds did ramp up late in the day ahead of a front of nasty weather, though I do not think anyone attempted to wavesail it in Avon. Though, there was action caught at the Canadian Hole in the sound!
Sunday, the surf calmed and with clearing afternoon skies, again picture perfect surfing waves in Nags Head and Coquina.
I believe the real sweet spot, for catching the best which Hurricane Bill offered, was at Coquina Beach in south Nags Head. The setup simply was perfect there both Friday and late in the day Sunday. I guess the surfing community found the spot throughout the weekend as the northern lot was packed with riders hitting the surf on Sunday as compared to a relatively small crew out on Friday.
All in all, an awesome surfing experience for all disciplines including wavesailing, kite surfing, and traditional surfing. Note, also some tow-in on Saturday!
Here are some photos in relative chronological order:
7 Comments:
Glad to hear you got something. There was no wavesailing to be had in my neck of the woods, though just standing on the beach and watching the storm swell crash down was pretty cool!
Funny how the storm worked out. I expected the puffins would score the best conditions.
Well it's always good for the Hatteras guys (which is why I have bitter resentment for them) and at least you caught it good on Delmarva!
kidding aside, Bill I had a vision for a post in which I wrote about you busting gear in a spectacular hurricane session...I was going to title the post"Bill's bill from Bill."
Genius.
Okay it sucks.
I'm just sitting here looking forward to the presumed return of wind as summer wraps up but the water stays warm for a bit.
Yea, I was bummed to hear that up north you all missed it due to poor conditions.
Literally, if any time to make the Hatteras Wavesailing Run, this past Friday and adjoining weekend was it. Of course, you would have had to of been aware that Coquina Beach was the spot (anytime SSW wind and SE swell, Coquina is it!), as it is not one of the popular Hatteras wavesailing breaks. I put the word out Friday though with multiple calls to the core local wave sailing crew, and posted my prediction for Coquina Beach earlier in the week on the OBX Beach Life Forum. Its tough to drop all and "head to Hatteras" but Friday was definitely conditions not to miss! It was basically Maui surf, water, and weather with lighter wind and no palm trees. Easy, predictable, BIG, yet FUN wavesailing for intermediate through pro level!
Too bad most of the local Avon wave crew missed it too! Only Keith M made it up to catch it!
Ah, and of course Buxton Tom who has never been in the water north of Oregon Inlet before Friday!
He was definitely stoked to catch it there after road sailing around the southern OBX until finally ending up at Coquina late Friday afternoon!
Bill, have a blast in Baja! Try to blog, or at least face book if you can
All the kiters where kite boarding and very litall kitesurfing going on. I cought a grate Sunday after noon run. woow, super smooth
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