Surf, sails and seasons: everything rides on the wind 



What can you get from a forecast, 

 besides the odds for rain and an 

 educated guess at the highs and lows? 

 Note the wind speeds and directions, as 

 well as tides and water temperatures. 

 Think what sort of conditions would be 

 nice for the activities you're planning. 

 But if the forecast is for sunny and 

 warm, is that all you need to know? 

 Not necessarily. 



Let's say you want to try out your 

 new surfboard in something a little 

 more rambunctious than pond water. 

 If Saturday's coastal forecast calls for 

 sunshine and winds out of the south or 

 southwest, as it often does in summer, 

 then the surf along most of the state's 

 beaches is likely to be flat as yester- 

 day's cola. Your best bet might be the 

 water off Bogue Banks, Shackleford 

 Banks or Cape Hatteras, whose 

 beaches more nearly face the wind, and 

 therefore a rougher surf. 



Look at the map and apply a simple 

 principle: wind pushes water. If, on its 

 way to the beach, the surf gets a shove 

 from behind, presto! breakers. But, if 

 the breeze meets the surf head-on, then 

 the water will hunker down and be 

 peaceable for swimmers, sailors and 

 surf casters. 



Beach weather 



Beginning in May, Summer sidles up 

 the North Carolina coast, and stays 

 there through September. Tem- 

 peratures camp in the eighties during 

 the day and drowse in the mid-60s to 

 low-70s at night. Water temperatures 

 remain above 70 degrees into October, 

 and, as late as November, there are 

 days when the water and air are warm 

 enough for swimmers. 



Fishing 



For about ten months of the year in 

 coastal North Carolina, the elements 

 smile on the fisherman. June through 

 September are the months of 

 shirtsleeves and light jackets. Fishing 

 in fall and spring can be equally plea- 

 sant, but carry heavy clothing, a water 

 repellent and wind-resistant jacket for 

 the occasional cold and wet weather. 



Boating and sailing 



If you've ever shoved off with only a 

 boat between you and the elements, 



then you probably know to keep at 

 least one eye on the weather. 



Peter Fricke, a licensed mariner, ad- 

 vises pleasure-craft operators to get ac- 

 curate weather information before they 

 launch, and to use a marine VHF radio 

 to monitor Coast Guard stations for 

 bulletins while boating. 



"Always listen to the forecast," 

 Fricke says, "and never go out in 

 anything more than a moderate 

 breeze." 



Fortunately, many days of the year 

 are fine for boating in the state's 



Smooth-sailing at Jockey's Ridge 



coastal waters. Breezes of seven to 16 

 knots, ideal for sailing, are common 

 with the prevailing winds, which are 

 southerly or southwesterly in spring 

 and summer, but northerly and 

 northwesterly by September. The sea 

 breeze, a regular fixture in summer, 

 makes local adjustments in the prevail- 

 ing air flow. Autumn usually brings 

 stronger gusts, but many fall days are 

 beautiful for boating. 



The weather man assures you that 

 the wind is in your corner. What other 

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