Got a week in one of the best windsurfing locations in the world...Sail-in / Sail-out, knee to waist deep water for miles...huge places on the water to stay for around USD 1500 per week (at this time of year). An awesome windsurfing shop 5 mins away with friendly people and great rental gear...It doesn't get much better than this if you love flatwater sailing. Got my son planning in the harness and straps in a couple of days. Every day was 12-20 knots except the first day which was 25-35.
Nico Prein did a video about the outer banks racing. You need a weed fin yes.
There is weed at times...There wasn't when I was there but there are a lot of shallow areas which you don't want to hit with an upright fin....I used a weed fin on my 7.8m/122l isonic but went out on my 97l dark horse with a 34cm race fin no problems
Select to expand quotedecrepit said..
Yes, nice one, does it have weed to get it really smooth?
The weed doesn't really smooth things out like Lake George. I don't ever recall seeing the butter smooth water that I've seen in LG videos (I've never sailed there). But there are shallow flats that can keep the water smooth for really nice runs in certain wind directions. In other directions you can sometimes get a short, steep wind chop that can be annoying.
In general, it's pleasant to windsurf there. We used to joke after returning from a trip there and faced with the reality of jibing on lake chop: Everyone is a hero in OBX
It is, indeed, a great destination and one of my favorites.
Puduah is right.... it's just protected in most directions and shallow.... the outer banks is a thin strip of sand separating a I think one of the largest sounds in the US and the Atlantic ocean. The wind from the N and NE comes over land but doesn't lose strength and from the south it's similar with some small islands also offering super flat conditions behind them. If you want waves there's a surf beach 5 minutes away on the Atlantic side with plenty of waves.
When I was there we had 25-25 from the north on the first day and about 7 degree weather and then the rest of the week the wind was from the south at about 12-20 knots. Warmed up to 24 degrees. March/April is a very transitional month.
The cool thing is I live in Florida now so about 14 hours drive away...you can rent gear from the local shop at good rates but I packed a van with everything...I used a 5.6M and 6.4m GA Vapor with my 97l FF Dark Horse but mainly my 7.8m Severne M4 on my 122 wide Isonic and then my son who was learning rented some big boards and we used a 4.2, 4.7 and 5.7...absolutely the most perfect place to learn.
It's not fast water, I think around 35 knots is the best speed I've seen from there. There's no really flat spots to get a good run. The weed isn't like the Aussie variety, it does nothing to dampen out the chop. Years ago they tried using an inflatable sausage to make a speed course but it didn't make much difference. Best thing is being able to sail for miles and step off the board and stand up easily. It's only after heading out 5 miles it finally gets deep.
I wouldn't call it a true speed strip at all but it is pretty flat.... behind the island in a southerly just out the front was a good section.
Random shot from OBX Wind a few years back, sparring with Dioni for first mark honors. Gives a good idea of the chop on a typical windy day (this one on 7.0 if I recall correctly). Weed or straight fins depends a lot on the time of year and varies year to year; I have raced on both there, but when there's weed a weed fin is imperative because its the kind of thin strips that stick to your fin and won't come off from a chop hop. Water depth varies too, mostly depending on wind direction more than tides (wind pushing water into/out of the sound). I've sailed there with 45cm straight fin without any problems, while other times I was hitting bottom in places with a 28cm weed fin...
