Fort Fisher Basin

Here's another description that was originally on www.gokitesurf.com. See below.

First a few comments: During high tide the water gets deep pretty quickly (maybe up to your shoulders at 15 feet out). The launch is small and there's no room for error. If your kite doesn't launch right you could mess it or someone up. In low tide you have more room. You can also walk out in knee deep water for a few hundred feet. If you're checking the tide charts keep in mind there's about a 2 hour delay in the Basin.

From www.gokitesurf.com...

The Basin is one of the few flat water spots we have in the Cape Fear area. The basin is a closed in bay separated from the Cape Fear River by a rock wall. It is suggested to wear some kind of foot protection here. There are oyster shells scattered about that can cut your feet bad. With booties you are fine though. The is a parking lot with a boat ramp in it. On the right side of the parking lot (the side closest to the rock wall) is a sandy beach. This is the beach we launch on. Please do not park up on the beach. Leave room for a few people to rig up kites. The launch area is a bit small, especially at high tide. You may have to stand in the water to launch your kite. Make sure everything is hooked up properly because of the small area.

At low tide the basin can be very shallow is places. There are crab pots in the water so keep an eye out for them. If you can't stay upwind very well you will want to launch your kite and walk out into the basin (normally upwind) as far as you can to give yourself some room to tack down wind. Don't get too close to people or the parking lot. Experienced riders will launch, walk out into the basin a bit, get on the board, and tack up wind to give themselves some room to get drug down wind.
The basin is best on SW and W winds. It can be ridden easily on S and SE winds but sometimes it is a little gusty. Normally on SW and W winds the basin will have smoother and stronger winds. You can ride the basin on a NW wind but it will be a bit off shore so you want to be confident about your up wind skills. It can also be gusty on a NW wind.
The basin is used by local commercial fisherman and by local kayak shops for tours. Please be respectful and nice to them. We do not want kiteboarding to be restricted or banned from the basin.

Directions
Take I-40 into Wilmington and continue straight through town and fallow the signs to Carolina and Kure beach. Fort Fisher is about 17 miles south of Wilmington. Go straight through Carolina and Kure Beach. You will come into Fort Fisher and will see the Fort Fisher historic site on your right. Continue straight like you were going to the Fort Fisher/Southport ferry station. You will pass the ferry station and go till the road ends. Park over by the sand beach to the right of the parking lot and boat ramp. Please do not park on the beach.

The Basin Slick
Like riding in butter smooth water? Think the Hatteras slick is a big deal? We'll it's tiny compared to the slick riding available in the Basin. The Basin is where many NC speed sailing records were set. It was host to Ken Winner's famous "Speed Trials" during windsurfing's hey day. The Basin is completely surrounded by rock walls, islands, and mash grass, making this 1 mile in diameter, round body of water, a natural speed slick, perfect for boosting insane air.

In any wind direction the basin has glass! To the east, there are channels with insane glassy water. To the south, there is glass behind Zeke's Island. To the west, is the rock wall separating the Basin from the Cape Fear River. All of these spots go off in different wind directions. You don't really need to search hard for glass. The Basin is glassier in the middle, than most anyplace you've ever been.


As a bonus, it blows like Hatteras in a true SW wind. A southwest forecast is key here. Something about the geography makes this place go off harder than any other spot in NC outside Hatteras, when it blows true southwest. The standard after work summer sea breeze here is 15-22 mph.

Keep in mind that with different wind directions the slicks move. You may have to explore a bit. Also, the tide can't be too low or there may not be water on the slicks. Have fun!

Please ride safe. We do not want kiteboarding to get restricted or banned in our area. Please read the Rules to ride by section on our site.