Real Watersports & Watermen’s Retreat
A lot of you have probably seen the ad in Sailing World for Real Watersports. Or heard your foiling friends mention it.
Not only does Real make new riders every day. They also have one of the best stocked superstores for foiling, surfing, kiting, with the most knowledgeable staff in the business that are a joy to be around.
We have been purchasing our wing foil gear from Real since October 2021 when we started wing foiling. They have a great selection, fast shipping. When you call you talk to a knowledgeable rider who has used the gear, if they have not used the specific gear, they get the answer from someone who has ridden the gear.
The Outer Banks where Real is located has been a hot bed for surfing, kiting, and windsurfing for decades. I first went to the Outer Banks in 1987 to push my windsurfing skills. The best spot back then was Canadian Hole which is now great for winging an also called Wing Hole. It was always best to visit in April and November, since the off season is not as crowded. Also, on the Pamlico Sound side if there is N-SE wind there will be weed, and lower water level. Best is S-NW option for no weed, and deeper water.
This spring we went to Real mid April for four days of wing foiling getting me back into the swing. Staying at Watermen’s Retreat, was just that, a treat. The apartment has a deck overlooking the water, rigging area, and great sunsets. The facilities were first class, clean, everything you need to cook. Two bedrooms, two bath, washer/dryer, which we did not even have to use, since the personal storage unit by the van dried the gear overnight.
When we first arrived Rob and Jason at the desk were great, Jason stayed on it with us until we were settled. Then we went to Jessie to fill out a few forms, and she took us out to show the launching area and how the system works. It is all so efficient. Rob had called us on the drive down saying our apartment was ready. It is nice to see how on top of it this staff is all the time. And they are all great at water sports.
So we unpacked, snack, and rigged to go get our butts kicked in 20-26 kts of wind on the first day. I was back into it with “Baptism by fire/wind”. Two sessions and then time for a relaxing evening.
The Bar and Grill has great food. We ate there twice, but also brought a cooler of food to keep eating our way. All of this was easy. We arrived on a Monday foiling two sessions daily and left at 10 am on Friday. The whole time there we did not leave the grounds except to foil. We met up with friends, we did not know where going to be there, and made some new ones. Everyone is there for the same reason, to quote Matt, “For the Stoke Zone”.
If you have been thinking about visiting, I highly recommend it. Choose your weather and go have a great time progressing.
We did buy gear, two new tail/stabilizers, Armstrong Speed 180’s, to go with our HA 780’s. We talked with Nick after he was teaching a Zero to Hero wing foiling lesson. Nick is a wealth of knowledge and just fun to be around. When I mentioned the Speed 180 moving from the Surf 205, he just smiled. Then Nick went through the changes we would feel, he was spot on with every aspect of the foil.
I am always looking for more info so I asked Matt, and Brendan about the Speed 180. They also said it was a great next step. And for me that is the whole thing, take it step by step and you will progress with the gear.
Lastly as we were having a great lunch outside from the bar and grill and had the chance to talked with Brendan one of the instructors. Brendan knows some of our sailing friends having lived in Annapolis, is also a wealth of knowledge, and fun to be around. That is a repeat, the staff are fun to be around, they love what they are doing and it shows. That afternoon we were on the Speed 180 smiling. They just make you feel welcome.
Thanks to all the great staff and fun guest for making this trip a huge success.
Season is here in RI, get out on the water and have fun.
Be kind, safe, and see you soon. Paul
