Raleigh | Charlotte | Wilmington | Cape Hatteras | Morehead City | Emerald Isle | Southeast
Raleigh | Charlotte | Wilmington | Cape Hatteras | Morehead City | Emerald Isle | Southeast
Sailing: Ebenezer Point has nice grass rigging areas and facilities. This is the main for sailing in the Triangle and on windy days you can find 20 - 30 fellow sailors to shred with. The best wind directions for Ebenezer are N, NE, S, and SW, but about any wind direction can be sailed here. If it blows hard enough, Jordan can build some nice swells for jumping! If the wind is from the W or E it can be very gusty (like lake sailing wasn't gusty anyway!). If the wind is West, it may be better to head to Lake Crabtree. If it is East, you want to go to Vista Point on Lake Jordan. During the summer, be aware of other watercraft around you. There can be quite a few boats and jetskis on the water.
Sailing: Lake Crabtree is a small lake. The best wind directions are W to NW only. This is a flatwater spot since the fetch is small, so no chance to build any kind of chop. This is an excellent place for people to learn to sail. No motor boats are allowed on the lake and its an excellent place to bring the family. They have good hiking trails and good single-track mountain biking trails.
Sailing: Falls Lake is a narrow lake.
The
best wind directions are probably NW and SE. N and S will also work OK.
Not too many people sail here (that I know of). I'll try and get more
concrete
info about the sites here. Beware, this is another lake where boating
is
very popular.
Sailing: The best wind directions are probably E to W. Nice sandy launch area, rest room, and concession stand. Launch fee $4.00 City of Raleigh residents, and $6.00 for Non-City of Raleigh residents. Please purchase a launch pass at the concession window. Seasonal passes available.
Sailing: For SW wind, you need to take a right at the next stoplight. The road has no name, but is referred to as the old Highway 73 (the intersection has a Texaco station and is located 1 mile from I-77). Once you turn right, go 2 miles and look for signs that say "Ramsey Creek Access" (sign will be on your left).
For NW wind, go straight through the next stoplight (where the Texaco station is) and continue on for about 1 mile. Look for "Blythe Landing". Once at Blythe Landing you should see other sailors launching from a private residence favored by some local sailors, but launching from the cove is the same.
For NE wind, go through the next stoplight (intersection where the Texaco station is) and continue on for 4 miles until you hit Hwy. 16. Once at Hwy. 16, go north approx. 3 miles. At the light at Unity Church Rd (Triangle, NC), take a right turn. Go to the end of the road (about 3 miles) and you will see a campground. Launch at the campground or find the boat access to launch from.
Sailing: The Basin is mainly a slalom spot and is great for all levels of sailors. Water conditions are flat with only 1' - 2' chop, depending on the wind. The favored wind direction is SW, but it is also sailable in S, SE, W, NW, and NE (gusty). During the summer there is good SW thermal action. At the launch area, there are oyster shells so wearing foot protection is a good idea. The bottom of the Basin is mainly a mushy silt (gunk), but it is mainly sand bar along the edges except on the west side where the rock jetty is located. Water depth is overhead in the middle, but mainly chest to knee deep in other areas.
Sailing: Corncake Inlet is an ocean sailing spot, with small to medium size waves. It is mainly sailed in S to SW winds. SW is slightly sideoff here, which makes this a good spot. You can pull out onto the beach at any of the crossovers on the way out, and find spots to sail in these wind directions, so anyplace is sailable, but the cleanest wind is usually at the very end towards the inlet.
Sailing: This is an ocean sailing spot, with small to medium size waves. This area can be sailed in S, SW winds, and NE winds. Sometimes the wind isn't as clean as Corncake, but you don't need to have a 4x4 for access!
Sailing: This is where everyone heads for wave sailing in a N and NE winds. A very good spot, especially in a strong NE wind, where it can build head to logo high waves. In these conditions the shorebreak can be tough, so be prepared!
Sailing: This is another ocean sailing spot. The jetties here can create some decent waves, but watch out for the surfers. Wind directions are S, SW, N, and NE.
Sailing: This is an ocean launch that offers side-off wave sailing in a NW wind. NE and SE wind directions will also work (side to side-on).
Sailing: Sailing: Grassy rigging, waist deep water, no weeds. See more below.
The paragraph below was taken from SHREDDER
Outer
Banks Guide '95
in a section called "Shredding the Northern
Outer
Banks" by
Brett Landry and Bill Bell
"One of the few northeast onshore soundside
launches,
Morrison Grove offers radical bump and jump conditions on strong
northeasts.
Spring and fall are the seasons for Morrison Grove and the site can
really
go off. However, it is a private launch and access is limited. Yet
there
is lodging available at the Boothe House right at the launch site.
Rates
run $25.00 per room during the spring season (March to June) and $35.00
per room during the summer (July and August). During the fall season,
the
place is usually closed to guests; however, reservations can be made
for
specific times.
For more information on Boothe House call
(919)473-3696.
Morrison Grove is located at the northern end of Roanoke Island near
the
Lost Colony and Elizabethan Gardens."
Next comments by TBC member Tony Gaunce:
"When the water blows out of the sound at KHS in a Northeast wind this place is the call. I also saw guys launching that day off the west end of the William B Umstead Memorial Bridge ... even larger fetch.
As I was rigging, I noticed an older
gentleman
drive by to dump some garbage, looking at me. I walked over and asked
if
he minded me sailing there to which he replied "Not at all, but don't
drive
down on the grass and get stuck. Some guys have done this before" and
also
offered up the accomodations if needed for $35 per night. This is a
great
place to sail, although you may end up sailing alone, but should be
respected
as it is private access and we would not want to make enemies of the
owners."
Sailing: Radio Island is a high intermediate to expert site which is best sailed in south or southwest winds. It offers a wide variety of sailing and when its good it will provide you with some of the most memorable days you'll ever have. When its bad, you will also have memories (the kind you want to repress). Timing is important here - the currents add to the apparent wind when the tide is going out, and reduce apparent wind when the tides are incoming. Therefore, this launch is usually sailed on an outgoing tide, which means that if you breakdown in the inlet (or if the wind dies), you're going out to sea. The sailing conditions include flat water, big rollers, backside wavesailing on sand bar breaks, down the line wave sailing at Fort Macon, and jumping at Shackleford banks. Beware of the boat traffic, the sand bars at low tide, and learn how the currents work. DO NOT sail beaufort inlet without a buddy, and make sure you are initiated by a Radio Island veteran.
Sailing: Harkers Island gets the strongest and most consistent northeast wind of any launch in the Emerald Isle/Morehead area. It is almost guaranteed whenever a high pressure is centered over New York or Pennsylvania. It is also a good place to sail in a SW, but most people prefer Island Riggs or Radio Island. This is a high intermediate to expert sailing area due to strong currents at the launch site and the intensity of the shorebreak. There is good chop hopping in the channel just off the launch, and great flat water sailing in Mike's Hole to the lee of the grass islands (so named because a guy named Mike learned to duck jibe there). Wavesailing can be had by sailing 2 miles across the sound, up Iron Creak (a long drag at low tide), and then doing a 200 yard portage over Core Banks to the ocean. The waves here in a NE may be the biggest along the outerbanks due to the long fetch from Diamond Shoals; likewise for the shorebreak. Also, by the second day of a big nor'easter, the current runs a long the beach at a blistering pace. This spot was pioneered by Don Ketterrer and Bill Hanner, both of whom will tell you that if you can sail the ocean off Harker's, you can sail anywhere. If you break a mast on Core Banks . . . well, you figure it out. DO NOT learn to wavesail here.
Sailing: North River is best sailed in a southerly wind and is a great place to learn how to jibe - mostly because you have to jibe alot. When the wind is southerly, it is also generally stronger here than at the flat water sites on Emerald Isle because of its exposure and the fact that it is a little further inland. On those days when the wind is due south and Emerald Isle is shallow and squirrely, this is the place to go.
Sailing: The Circle is an ocean launch best sailed in E, any southerly wind, and W. You'll find ocean swell and waves here. Watch out for the surfers and the fishermen and get there early in the summer to get a parking spot.
Directions: To sail from the South side of the Neuse: Take 101 S. from Havelock and follow signs to Minnesott Beach (left on 306). Turn right, into Pine Cliffs Recreational Area, which is marked and about 1 mile before the ferry.
Minnesott Beach can be very good on a NW and the Neuse gets some pretty good size river swells that build up in a NW too but not generally as big as Cedar Island. If it is blowing it will provide plenty of great sailing and big ramps to jump to make the old adage, never leave wind, to find wind a strong reason to stay and sail there vice the extra hour and a half to get to Cedar Island.
Sailing: Minnesott Ferry is hardly in the Morehead area, but I put it here anyway. It is about the only place in the area to sail a NW if you are into airtime. Because of the long fetch from New Bern and the fact that the Neuse River narrows here, there can be outstanding chop and swell at this launch. Watch for the Ferry when sailing here . . . or take advantage of the captive audience and make them watch you.
Sailing: If you want some of the
finest
NW wind sailing in the state of North Carolina, go to Cedar Island!!
Its
a long drive, about 50 minutes from Beaufort/Morehead City
area,
but if a good NW is blowing you will be rewarded with some fantastic
"inland
ocean" type conditions. The launch is immediately to
the right of the Cedar Island / Ocracoke Ferry jetty. A NW wind
provides
a side on wind from the left and the Jetty smooths out the waves and
chop
to allow easy launching off a sandy beach. Once up and sailing you will
find the waves progressively increase in size and you'll get the full
force
of the wind outside the Jetty. Unlike other NW sites, the long
fetch
across the wide Pamlico sound allows the waves to build up into a
more open ocean like state and not the generally short choppy
conditions
characteristic of other NW shallow water inland sites. A
25-30K
NW will yield good size 6' -8' swells on the outside and rideable surf
on the inside. The beach extends several miles down to the
east so if you get blown downwind you can beach and walk back up.
Sailing:Island Riggs is a shop located on Bogue Sound and is the most popular sailing site in the Morehead City/Emerald Island area. The best wind directions are west - north - east. It is also sailed in southerly winds, but you have to slog out to the wind line. It is an easy place to sail, with an outstanding rigging area and all the amenities. The water is shallow making it a great place to learn water starts and jibes. In southerly winds, there can be big chop on the north side of the sound, but be prepared for a multi-mile reach to get there. Watch for body slam'in shallow spots and the occasional oyster bed. Ray charges a modest day use fee for each sailor to cover water, parking lot, etc.
Sailing:15th Street. East, any Northerly, and West wind directions are best. This side offers flat water and chop on the north side of Bogue Sound. It's not as shallow as Island Riggs and there is no day use fee.
Sailing:3rd Street is an ocean launch that is best sailed in W, SE, SE and E winds. At the time of this writing, it had a great break, but these things continuously change. 3rd Street is a little better than the Circle in Morehead City in a S/SW wind because the wind is less onshore. Be careful of the surfers and surf casters!
Sailing:Salter Path Family Campground is a great place to spend the weekend. The winds and the sailing here are the same as Island Riggs and 15th Street. The camping facilities are beautiful and you can keep your gear rigged and on the water. Be prepared to pay for all that convenience however - you can get a motel room for what they charge per night. Generally worth the price though.
Mail
John
Harper with your site reviews.
