Atlantic Bathwater at the Frisco Bath House!
Wow, talk about warm Atlantic water today! One of the aspects I love about living and wavesailing in Hatteras is the proximity of the Gulf Stream just offshore. Today, the tropical warm waters of the Gulf Stream touched the southern Outer Banks providing sauna-like ocean water. The Sea Surface Temperature Satellite imagery (see circled area in image) show that little finger of yellow brushing the southern shoreline. Amazing that on one side of the sand spit, water is hovering in the low to mid 40s while on the other its pushing 70 degrees! Though wave conditions were sub par with side-onshore small stuff, 4.7m wind strength provided plenty of juice for loops and fun jumps. The occasional front side hit was possible if I was lucky and a peak lined up. All in all though, that water felt soooo great that even with the crappy surf conditions, it was an excellent sesh. My first one at the age of 40 too! For 2010, I have begun recording my sessions on SessionLogs! The site is an excellent resource for tracking sessions and the detail is fantastic. Be sure to check it out!Speaking of 40, I hit that magic age the day before on the 27th! Thanks for all the Facebook birthday wishes, and especially my wife Lauren who threw a killer totally surprised birthday party at the Outer Banks Brewing Station. Thanks to all who made it to the party! One key score was the Four Dimensions DVD from Andy, Stewart, and Brian at OceanAir...many thanks guys!!
13 Comments:
Happy 40 man! balmy in January sounds like a treat. what causes the current to shift in?
Primarily, I believe its wind, but likely also "other factors" under the sea.
On average though, it seems to come in near shore during NE wind.
Today should be excellent too for warm water! Sounds like Andy and Stewart will be hitting the Lighthouse, which should be quite fun, and warm!!
Bummed I am going to miss it!
Yeah Bill, happy 40th! Janis and I really wished we could have attended.
Yeah, our water up here isn’t quite that warm yet, but it’s not like I’m gonna have to worry about it for the next two months. I’m having my shoulder scoped the Tuesday after next. Dr says I’ll be off the water for about 2 months.
No worries, it’s been an awesome off season of sailing. I’ll come back stronger and ready to jam.
Bring on the Spring Windsurfing slate of events! Stay tuned to live2sail for breaking news in the near future…
can i borrow 4 dimensions?
Happy Birthday Bill! Here's to more action on the water after 40...Cheers!
40! Well congratulations on becoming an accomplished sailor before 40. Looping, wave riding, etc. You can just put on the cruise control and sail nice and easy now that you are in your twilight years!
Ahhh, definitely have to keep pushing it, my joints are not sore yet! Especially with these young bucks around like Andy and Stewart! : )
definately keep pushing it Bill, your style inspires me.
for me, the best way to improve is to sail with others that can inspire you to push your personal comfort level. you wanna get better at tennis, fnd a pro that yo can play with on a regular basis. thats what makes the wavejam events so successful. it brings lots of great sailors together, to jam! Status quo is for the birds!
Hi Folks, I just stumbled on this blog, and was hoping someone could point me toward or offer up some info on the best time and place for wavesailing in NC. I'm thinking about a road trip this spring and I've never sailed your neck of the woods.
Cheers,
Chris Young, Ontario
Hey Chris,
Glad you found us! Yea, definitely bookmark this site, along with the OBX Beach Life Forum. Actually, the forum is best to bookmark in your mobile device if you have one! We note sessions near real-time on the forum by posting live beach conditions and where everyone is sailing. We are primarily all wave sailors and hit the best spots on the OBX for given conditions. When you are here, definitely stay tuned to the forum, this site, Andy's Lost in Hatteras (now featured at windsurfingmag.com!), along with the local shops (especially OceanAir, Avon Sailhouse, Sailworld, and Ride Hatteras).
If there is perfect side-off peeling waves somewhere on the islands, we will likely be there and welcome anyone to come join us!
Also, as for planning a visit, mid to late May is great for wavesailing! The ocean water will be warming by then, and we get great SSW to SW wind conditions during that time of year!
Also, late Sept is the best time of year for pure wavesailing! Its our prime time for long period tropical swell, along with warm water, and trunks only sailing! Sept is the closest we get to Maui style wavesailing!! Hatteras Wave Jam happens around that time too!
Check out the calendar control on this blog to search past posts during those times of year to see what has happened over the past few years. Fun times!!
Hey, thanks, just what I was looking for. I recently left the airlines after 20 years, so getting a wave fix for a poor Canadian boy is a bit more expensive than it used to be.
Cheers, maybe I'll be there in May.
"The ocean water will be warming by May"? Looks like you get it on the Gulf Stream's whim! Very cool.
Belated Happy Birthday, too!
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