Windsurfing

[jeremymayf]

I was wondering how many fellow RV’rs and rv.net enthusiasts also have the windsurfing bug? I would be interested in hearing about, and seeing (pics) of, places you have been and how you outfit your rig to accommodate the paraphernalia of our wonderful sport.

I’ll start it off with a couple pictures; the first is our 31’ Class C Bigfoot with windsurf board attached to the rear ladder. The Bigfoot has under-storage bays that span the width of the rig, so that’s where I keep sails, masts, etc. BTW, that vintage 1980s Maui fun-board has since been replaced by a new Bic Core 133 liter. Also, the motorcycle now travels in the bed of a Nissan Frontier pickup—our new dinghy as of last fall.

The next two pictures are where we went on our most recent trip (not our pics though—for some reason—ask dw :?, the pics didn’t turn out) —August 2010, last week :B —to a reservoir just outside Laramie, WY, called Lake Hattie. Beautiful FREE boondocking spot! Very few people—the place was empty during the week and only a few people showed up Friday as we were leaving. In addition to being very windy, the area also has miles of dirt roads and single track for off road vehicles—so when the wind was down, out came the dirt motorcycle! For those traveling with small children, or like us with elderly father-in-law, make sure your rig has good heat/battery reserve for those ~40 degree nights—elevation 7500’.

While I certainly want to encourage everyone to post, I would especially love to hear about off-the beaten-path windsurfing, boondocking spots like Lake Hattie.

Thanks,
Jeremy

[Rice]

I'm sure hoping that's not the sound side. 🙂

So...you're going to give Corpus a try, eh? I hope my assessment of South Padre Island didn't scare you away from there; I have equally unflattering things to say about Corpus. That said, you're going to be AMAZED at how cheap groceries are. I still remember one guy from Canada, I think, marveling multiple times about the size of the sausage section at the H-E-B in Flour Bluff. Then again, a Coloradoan once described to me, with the same awe or maybe horror in his case, a guy at that same store who went into the seating section of the deli department and opened a package of hot dog wieners he'd bought, and ate them. Just like they were. The entire package. Of course, he's from Colorado--the skinniest state, so he would notice something like that. I bet nobody else did.

If you're not boondocking, then January and February in Corpus are fine. I avoid it because I don't mind being cold while boondocking but I really don't like being wet and salty and cold while boondocking.

Plus, you'll be joining in on the full-on retired snowbird thing, to get a taste of that. Sounds like a good plan all around.

[Wind_Surfer]

Well it is plenty windy today, but feel lazy so probably won't go sailing today.

[Wind_Surfer]

Hey all, good day today. 6.5 sail day, sunny and still a little warm. Enjoy!

[Wind_Surfer]

Oh there are kites even at the 'hole' now. The place is pretty sparse for this time of year they tell me. Water is cool but I could easily spring suit it, but decided on a full suit for the float factor until my skills come back to full strength.

We will be in Corpus for Jan and Feb as we have made reservations. Might just drift down along the coast after the outer banks to Texas.

[Rice]

I'll mention kites just to note that I don't see any in the photos, so YAY! 🙂

And I see the surprisingly vexatious wondering, "Where should I turn around?" What a great place. But 5.2 for a man might be a touch too much wind for me. I think my sail is a 5.7. Maybe a 5.5. (Why can't I remember?) Carey, however, would have to be dragged in off the water in those conditions, and probably only due to darkness.

But I think I also see full wetsuits. The wind has been howling in Denver for the last several days (power out due to wind in parts of Colorado), but it's kind of chilly so I'm not even thinking about going sailing. Plus, it would be a new launch and the last thing I want is howling, chilly wind at an unfamiliar place.

However, we're considering Corpus in the Spring. We'll be in Austin in November, but have stuff to do until Thanksgiving and that's when it gets kind of chilly for boondocking down there, so probably ixnay on the sailing then. But we have a good amount of work to do on the RV (it'll be 10 years old) and a place to work on it in Austin, and I wouldn't be surprised if we're there for several months, which would put us in the Corpus neighborhood (by Texas standards, anyway) come Spring.

Late February can be okay there, and it's a lot less crowded than it is in March, which is a zoo. April is usually good, although it starts getting pretty hot, and by early May, it can be unbearable to boondock but the wind can still be a very consistent 15-20 every afternoon. There's a two-week limit on stays, though, so you have to bug out for two days, and then you can go back.

Just in case anybody's doing any planning--I'd love to meet up with you. Although I think winter on the Outer Banks would be kind of nice.

[Wind_Surfer]

??? Why the repetitive mentioning of a kite?

[Monaco_Montclai]

Wow what a ride, Peter Lynn twister 2----- 4.1---- the only way to go. Wow what a ride. And Happy -camping

[jeremymayf]

Hey Wind Surfer,
Nice pics. Glad you finally got some sustained wind.

[Wind_Surfer]

It was a very nice day out here on the banks. Sunny, water temp not bad and plenty of wind. I sailed a 5.2 all day, stayed on my 96 liter board.

Sorry about the poor quality photos, but we haven't got our camera back from repair so these are cell phone shots.

[Monaco_Montclai]

Every time we camp I-ll put up a Peter Lynn twister 2--4.1 nice kite, really to big just for flying. Happy-camping

[Wind_Surfer]

Hey all, it has finally started to blow around here on the outer banks! I have been sailing a ~6.0 for the last week. It is supposed to blow again tomorrow. I'll try to take some pics and post them (if I remember how).

I'm amazed at this place, no wonder so many people come out here to sail. It is perfect for me as my skills are rusty. I still can't believe that you can sail a mile or two from shore and stand up in waist deep water!

[Wind_Surfer]

Windfinder, windsminder. It's all an evil plot! Didn't really blow today. Da_n those computer models!

[jeawal52]

jeremymayf thanks for the welcome. I'm not surprised that Andy helped you out with your board purchase, he is a fine young man and, of course, we are all very proud of him. The whole family vacationed in Avon a few years ago to attend Andy and his bride's wedding. While we were there, Andy and Anne wowed us all with their windsurfing abilities.

Hopefully next spring my husband and I will be able to get back to Avon for a visit and get to see Andy's new store.

Hope you enjoy your time at the Outer Banks.

[jeawal52]

Wind Surfer yes it is a small world and thanks for the welcome. I have been a member for a couple of years reading all I can about the RV lifestyle. My husband just retired just a little over a year ago and in August, we bought a new to us class C rv. We intend to do some traveling soon and maybe get to the Outer Banks sometime next spring.

I always enjoy seeing my nephew's windsurfing pictures that he posts. Haven't tried it yet myself but who knows, maybe I'll get Andy to give me soon lessons or maybe the stand up paddle board might be more my speed.

Hope the wind picks up for you.

[jeremymayf]

Hi Aunt Jeanne and welcome to RV.net!
Your nephew earned my everlasting respect a couple of years ago--he knew what I wanted but was sold out at the time. Instead or trying to sell me a board he knew I didn't want (quite a pricy purchase BTW), he recommended a few places to try at our next destination out West. A businessman with a soul is very rare these days. Will definitely pass along your "hello" next time I see Andy.

Wind Surfer--we're shooting to arrive in Hatteras this weekend--preferably Saturday as wind looks increasingly good starting Sunday. Hope you're having a blast on the water today--windfinder is showing mid-20s gusting to 30.