New to OBX

[SweetwaterDave]

I am going to be in the "Great Dismal Swamp" of North Carolina in mid May, and if the forcast is good, am thinking about heading down to the OBX for 3-4 days. I am a Sunday lake home sailor in Wisconsin, and would love to get on a shorter board and in the straps. I am not bringing any equipment, would like some lessons, and don't want to get in the way of experienced sailors. Any suggestions ??? Thanks

[d0uglass]

Several shops do lessons and rentals. You might try Sailworld Cape Hatteras first. They're got this guy Andy who seems to have lots of stoke and a good, positive, helpful, attitude.

http://www.hatteras.ws/

Ocean Air Watersports does lessons and rentals, too. They seem like nice guys to me, although one person I taught who had had a lesson there earlier said her instructor was carelessly disinterested, condescending, and unhelpful. I don't know if that's the exception, or the usual.

http://www.oceanairsports.com/school.cfm?CFID=9389557&CFTOKEN=17832756

Also, the Hatteras Island Sail Shop is a good, folksy place further north on the OBX in Rodanthe.

http://www.windvisions.com/Hatteras/hiss.html

I like to camp in Rodanthe when I'm in the OBX. It's less crowded, and some of the campsites like Rodanthe Watersports and Campground (google it) have convenient, un-crowded windsurfing access right from the campground.

[Wind-NC.com]

Thanks for the plug James, but you must have me confused with someone else. I abhor people who are helpful and positive.

Hahaha just kidding

Dave, we can set you up, for sure. Bring your wetsuit, just in case it's unseasonably cool, but you'll probably be in trunks by that time. We get a lot of afternoon SW that time of year, and it's usually much stronger than forecasted... So if the forecast is for SW at 15, and there's a big ol' Bermuda High sitting out there, it'll probably end up being about 25... Sweeeeet....

Don't worry about "getting in the way of experienced sailors." We've got miles and miles of empty beaches, so if you want to sail alone, trust me, you can. However, that's not a very good way to progress. Everyone out here will be more than happy to help you out if they see you floundering... So join the crowds and have some fun! As for lessons I'm available early mornings and late afternoons and can help you out with just about anything you're working on. Give me a call or swing by the shop when you get in if you want to set something up!

Make sure you check out all the other shops, too, as there are only a few places in the US that offer so much variety and expertise and hands on radness where you can see and touch the latest and greatest windsurfing goods! Take advantage of it!

See ya soon!