Kitty Hawk Water Sports- Nags Head, NC

Well, we’ve pulled the boats out of the water in Nags Head and started the winterizing process. At Nor’banks in Duck we still have boats ready if needed and we’ll milk that a little until November at the latest. The only thing we have going in Nags Head is windsurfing.

Last winter I was sweating bullets over the economy and how it would affect the summer business. We wound up being down a little but nothing hugely signficant. I read in Consumer Reports that vacations were the one thing the general population would actually spend more on now that they’ve reprioritized their finances. Hard to pinpoint the thinking behind that.

We had a very good staff this season which makes it more enjoyable for everyone. The key phrase for a business owner like myself is “no drama”. Just give me a group of people that show up to work everyday with a good attitude and give an honest effort. We’ll get them up to speed with the rest.

Back to windsurfing, over the next year I’m going to further our interest with more equipment and greater exposure. The bottom line is, we’re located in a great windsurfing spot where you don’t have to take your equipment elsewhere to rig it. We have it rigged for you. My goal is to get some of the people who regularly head south to Hatteras Island to slow down and try us.

In other news, stay tuned for a very exciting anouncement for the spring of 2010. It will bring more adventures to our site in Nags Head.

Last weekend was our first ever regatta at Kitty Hawk Water Sports and although the turnout was small everybody had good fun. The racers were mostly locals except for the Marines who came in to pick up a new purchase and what better way to give it a shake down cruise than at our regatta.

On Saturday the weather held off and we got in 6 races on the triangular course. Afterwards, we had a great social at Pamlico Jack’s just a block away. If you get the chance to go there they have a great deck bar overlooking the sound.

Sunday morning we woke up to clouds and cool weather. After much debating we decided on a mid-distance race across the sound. The winds were great, around 12 mph, and we were zipping across the water.

Chip Forbes won the regatta on a Hobie 16 with Chris Matthews coming in second on a Getaway. It should be noted that anyone scared to race should take a lesson from Wikey. Who, at 70 years old, capsized both days and each time got back on the boat and kept racing.

During the regatta I ran in to some BABA members who were on their way to Hatteras Island for a week of windsurfing. After talking with them I decided to hold a windsurfing regatta next year on Columbus Weekend. It should be a great time to attract racers from BABA and WET since they are in the neighborhood. Plus, it’s a good time for wind. In addition, I’ll switch the sailing regatta to a weekend in September where there will be more people to participate.

As an aside, we are shutting down the operation for the season except for windsurfing. We are going to try to attract the windsurfers who normally head down to Hatteras Island this time of year so I want to make ourselves more available.

Chris and Wikey bringing up the rear.

Hurricane Daniel passed by last night and unless you looked at the ocean you wouldn’t have known.  This morning I showed up to work and it was turning into a nice day without the mugginess.  Around mid-morning a few windsurfers came out to enjoy the nice NW winds hovering just below 15 mph.  Our former instructor, Alexis, was out there having a great time.  When I finally got on the water I just couldn’t get that board on a plane.  I swear I’m going to lose weight this winter.