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Sailing Hurricane Noel
By ANNE BOWERS  Even though Hurricane Noel stayed off the coast of North Carolina, it created strong winds and big waves for Hatteras Island. A surprising number of windsurfers made their way to Canadian Hole, a popular launching area located midway between the villages of Buxton and Avon, on Friday, Nov 2. For hours, the average wind speed at nearby Avon Pier was north-northeast at 42.5 with gusts in the low 50s. It never rained, but the dreary weather masked the view of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and all the houses in Avon. Both the water and air temps were mild, given the sunless conditions and the fact that it was Nov. 2. The parking lot bustled with activity as people took wind readings and scurried to find places to rig sails away from the stinging sand. Big men rigged tiny sails using the leeward side of vehicles or the bulkhead for protection from the blasts of wind. Sail sizes ranged from 2.9 to 3.7 and several of the boards that were ridden were less than 8 feet. The doors on the public bathrooms and changing rooms were nailed shut by the National Park Service to keep them from blowing off during the storm. The lids of the big green dumpster were dancing erratically in the gusts. One by one, the local and visiting sailors hit the water. Words like “honking,” “nuclear,” “survival,” and “violent” were used by the windsurfers to describe the conditions. Things happen fast on the water when the wind is that big. Sailors worked hard to simply keep their boards on the water. It certainly wasn’t a day to try anything fancy or new. There were some big explosions on the water as some sailors lost control in gusts. Even an ordinary task like carrying gear to the water took strength and concentration. Generally speaking, most of the windsurfers didn’t stay out for long sessions. Many took frequent breaks on the beach to rest from the extreme wind, while others simply called it quits after a handful of runs, claiming that the wind was too strong or it just wasn’t much fun. Survival sailing isn’t for everyone. Not all sailors who gathered at the Hole went out. Some cited the lack of equipment or ability or confidence to tackle what Mother Nature was dishing out. Waiting until the next day was a popular option because the forecast predicted the winds would go northwest at 25 to 35. But those who waited until Saturday were probably disappointed. The forecast was accurate, but in keeping with the normal pattern, the northwest wind dropped out extremely quickly. By early afternoon, the skies were blue and the winds calm. Next all eyes were on a few days hence when the forecast for wind was again looking promising. Click to view slideshow 
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