A few days ago we received an email from Chad, a kiter who resides at our neighboring island of Hilton Head. This is his report of he and friend making the kite 6 mile crossing from Hilton Head Island, SC to Tybee Island, GA last Saturday. Thanks Chad for the kite STOKE!
Sharing the STOKE for the local kite scene on Tybee and Hilton Head Islands!
My name is Chad Golden, a local kiter on HHI, SC. On Saturday 7-31-10, myself and a local windsurfer Tim Carter jumped on a eastern summer breeze for a ride to Tybee Island, GA from Hilton Head Island, SC. Eastern winds are unusual for the summer indicative of hurricane in most cases but not on this date!
Local conditions within the 20 mile radius, tides and breeze for that day—>
On the falling tide against the eastern puff, the point of sail to Tybee lighthouse was ON!
I suggested to Tim we make the trek, and he was thinking the same thing, SO if all seemed solid after a few 1-2 mile warm-up passes with easy up wind return, we would jet.
Tim and I along with John Batson (kiter/windsurfer)make regular 4 mile legs on sailing sessions for hours at a crack on the southern part HHI, esp. on S/SW presentation.
The eastern look gave us a SINGLE reach from Sea Pines Beach Club marker 39 to Tybee pier with only easy pressure up wind to maintain. Entering the shipping lanes, current and rolling swell where 6-8ft in spots and more so with a ship’s wake. After passing the lighthouse point from our positons (Tim was on top) Tim went into the beach break, made a stop for some shells at the pier area, and I elected to hold my position about 1/2mile out where current seemed manageable. I could see a black Slingshot up the river a bit and an orange Cab. making tacks in and out from the break on the north end of Tybee . There was a larger group of kiters on the south end of Tybee as well. After a few passes, thirst and current concerned me and motivated me to jet back to HHI. I waited a few moments while a cargo ship passed and stayed a good 1/2mile away pointing on her stern. Selecting a known HHI land mark (Coligny beach) I began my reach back while Tim harvested beach gifts. The point of sail was relaxed without much up wind pressure and ended up being a slight run downwind, after better visible landmarks came up I adjusted on an aerial tower point of sail to coincede with a kiter who was late on the scene (that would be Batson).
I was on Starkites ExA 13m (c-kite hybrid tube) and 140SK sprint board. Tim was on 110L board and 6.0 (6.5)
Kinda of a typical session for us …we just had somewhere to go!
FUN and what a view! Glad to add to AOK kiting stoke!
Chad
