* * * NACK Trip Album * * *

The trip to Democrat Point left from the put-in at Oak Beach. Gordon was paddling a new Impex Currituck and trying to avoid thinking of launching and landing it in surf off the point.

The group practiced bracing and low-brace-turns in the tidal pond near the point before heading for the surf. A typical excercise involves bracing off a shallow bottom to practice the hip-snap. Here Tim is demonstrating the shallow nature of the tide pool with a brace and wave excercise. "Look Ma, one hand!"

The practice lagoon had a path to the ocean side. This was a great place to scout the surf before committing to the current and waves that form in the inlet. Because the area is a protected nesting area for migratory birds, access is restricted to a specific path which is marked. This shot is a double entendre as Gordon is the clubs first President and responsible for early guidance of the club.

After scouting the point the group decides to portage to the surf zone and practice launching and landing. We formed an interesting head-to-tail chain which left only one boat behind after the first carry.

Inlets are often foggy areas. The reason is the water from the shallow Great South Bay is very warm whereas the ocean water is much colder. When they meet there are excellent conditions for formation of a local fog bank. With fog on the ocean side, guess which way the tidal current is flowing in the inlet!

After surf practice, the group able to flag down a beach walker to aid with a group photo. Unfortunately all were too busy to get any pictures of actual surf landings. Five of the original six founding members include, from left to right: Gordon, Elizabeth, Tim, Pam and Stu. Doug was busy that day and only got to the put-in in time to welcome the group back at the landing.

Where the current from an inlet meets the ocean is a great place to find standing waves, eddies, and ocean waves interacting in interesting and challenging ways. Here Gordon, Tim and Elizabeth play in the "washing machine", sometimes hiding their boats completely from the camera.