Soundside spots that are good in a West wind. Basically, anywhere. Southern beaches like Frisco Woods will be side to side onshore with clean winds. Northern beaches like Avon and Salvo will be straight onshore, maybe gusty close to shore, and sometimes there can be weird waves if the beach is bulkheaded. Check the Buxton Slick for super flat water, but it might be shallow.
If you want to work on some freestyle moves, the Buxton Slick is the place to be! You can head down there in almost any wind direction, but it’s really best on a WSW to WNW. Rig up a tiny freestyle fin, and be cautious of the shallow spots. I usually recommend rigging up for some extra power, too, since the wind can get a bit junky as it goes over the islands.
We usually launch from D’s spot or the Canadian Hole and make our way over.
The Canadian Hole is one of the more social places to go windsurfing on Hatteras Island. During peak weeks, it can even be tough to find a parking spot! This makes for some really fun sailing, just make sure you know and adhere to the right of way rules (Starboard tack (right hand forward) has ROW over port tack (left hand forward) sailors). Make sure to give everyone a smile and a hoot as you wizz past!
The one major thing that I forgot to say is that the Hole is no longer officially called the “Canadian Hole.” These days, the road signs read “Haulover Day Use Area” which is actually based on the historic name. The location is one of the narrowest spots on the whole island, so boats would sail there and then drag their vessels up and over the dunes to get from the sound to the ocean. So there’s your random fact for the day!
Getting There: Park in the “Haulover Day Use Area” parking lot, located halfway between Avon and Buxton. You can’t miss it, because it’s the only thing along that stretch of roadway. There are changing rooms, bathrooms, and showers, too! Here it is on a map: (Note- the darker colored water straight out from the lot is deep water- everywhere else is shallow- especially the sandbar just to the north)
