Brett, Author at Watermen's Retreat

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If you’ve spent any time looking at the growth of wing foiling, prone foiling, or e-foiling, you already know that Cape Hatteras is widely considered the capital of East Coast watersports. The steady summer southwest winds, warm water, and miles of open sound seem like a paradise.

But if you talk to any experienced foil rider, they’ll give you a quick reality check about the Pamlico Sound: It’s incredibly shallow in parts.

The vast majority of the sound features a sandy bottom covered in chest- to knee-deep water. While that’s the absolute ultimate setup for kiteboarding or learning to windsurf, it presents a major roadblock when you have a 75cm to 90cm aluminum or carbon fiber foil mast hanging beneath your board.

Try to launch in the wrong spot, and you’ll find yourself planting your front wing on a shoal, or worse, doing the “walk of shame” a half-mile out into the sound just to find water deep enough to drop your board.

That’s where the Watermen’s Foil Garden comes in.

The deep-water launch channel right in the backyard of Watermen's Retreat.. Source: REAL Watersports

What is the Foil Garden

The “Foil Garden” isn’t just a fun name, it’s a localized feature right in the backyard of Watermen’s Retreat and REAL Watersports in Waves, NC.

While the surrounding shoals remain shallow, a dedicated, deep-water channel and runway cut directly out from our private launch site. This channel gives riders a direct, stress-free path straight from the grass dock out into a massive, deep-water pocket of the Pamlico Sound.

Why it matters: In the Foil Garden, you can drop your board right at the end of the dock, step on, and instantly hook into the wind without worrying about your mast striking the bottom. No long walks, no carrying heavy setups over shoals, and zero dinged carbon.

Whether you are running a long mast for high-speed winging, taking a Foil Drive out for a flat-water paddle session, or practicing your dock starts, this zone unlocks the sound in a way no other launch on the Outer Banks can match.

To maximize your time on the water this summer, you just need to understand a few basic rules of the local playground:

Come and join us for endless foil sessions right out the back door, book today!

The Outer Banks of North Carolina, specifically the legendary Cape Hatteras, offers a geographically unique setup that is nearly impossible to find anywhere else in the world.

With over 70 miles of coastline and a distinct “bend” in the island, riders can choose between the challenging Atlantic Ocean and the shallow, expansive Pamlico Sound depending on the day’s swell and wind direction.

This versatility makes it a premier destination for every discipline, from high-performance surf foiling and long-distance downwinders to wing foiling. Because you can find offshore winds or wrap-around swells just by traveling a few miles north or south, the OBX ensures that you rarely miss a day on the water, regardless of the conditions.

For those looking to enter the sport, the Pamlico Sound acts as a massive, sandy-bottomed practice pool that eliminates many of the traditional barriers to learning.

For more information on your next trip to Cape Hatteras,contact a REAL Pro at 252-987-6000 or emailREALpro@realwatersports.com.

 

The Lopez family took over Watermen’s Retreat and explored everything the Outer Banks and Watermen’s Retreat have to offer, including the gear storage sheds. After Luke got all the gear sorted, they drove out to find a classic summer surf session.

Book your stay at Watermen’s Retreat to enjoy summer family fun!

REAL Watersports and Armstrong have partnered to bring an exclusive experience to the Outer Banks. 

The week will introduce beginners to the sport of wing foiling through our Zero to Hero Wing Camp and provide intermediate or advanced riders access to gear, demos and tech talks REAL x Armstrong Zero to Hero Wing Camp is scheduled at REAL’s waterfront facility in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, April 21st – 23rd. 

Beginner, intermediate, or advanced foilers can take private or semi-private lessons with REAL Watersports, utilizing the newest and most extensive selection of Armstrong gear available. 

Intermediate or advanced foilers can take advantage of the ultimate Armstrong Gear Demo at Wing Hole, condition dependent, April 22nd-29th.  

What’s the next step? For more information, to book your accommodations at Watermen’s Retreat, or to book your Zero to Hero Wing Camp, call us at 252-987-6000. We’re so excited about this upcoming event. We hope you can join us!   SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: 

Armstrong Gear Demo: April 22nd – 29th

Zero to Hero Wing Camp: April 21st. 22nd and 23rd

 

REAL x Armstrong Wing Camp: $1695 per person 

April 21st – 23rd 

In the REAL x Armstrong Wing Camp, you’ll be fully immersed in the sport of winging with the best coaches and gear in the world. No previous foiling or winging experience is necessary. REAL makes wing foiling easy, efficient, and safe to learn. The goal of this camp is to take beginners and give them the knowledge, ability, and confidence to take sessions in their home waters. 

 CAMP INCLUDES 

  • REAL’s world famous, three-day Zero to Hero Camp instructional program
  • Maximum 2 to 1 student-to-instructor ratio
  • The latest Armstrong equipment
  • PWC “On the Fly” coaching and water support
  • Equipment and theory tech sessions
  • Foil training session to develop your foil skills
  • Access to private launch area reserved for REAL students and Watermen’s Retreat guests
  • 10% off regularly priced wetsuits, rashguards, sunscreen, sunglasses, booties, and clothing at REAL

Armstrong Demo: 

Wing Hole, aka Canadian Hole, aka The Haulover Day Use Area at Cape Hatteras 

April 23rd – April 30th* 

*Conditions dependent 

Check the REAL Instagram stories for demo run times.

You can stay in deluxe waterfront accommodation at Watermen’s Retreat, get access to the Watermen’s Foil Garden, and dine/drink onsite at Watermen’s Bar & Grill.  

Need more info? Call252-987-6000 or emailREALpro@realwatersports.com

List of Available Gear:

UHA Front Wings

HA Front Wings

MA MKII Front Wings

MA Front Wings

S1 Front Wings  

Downwind Front Wings 

APF Pump Foil Front Wings  

Performance Masts  

A+ System Mast 

Allow Mast

A+ System Fuselage

WKT Foilboard

WKT MKII Foilboard

Noah Flegel Pro Foilboard

Austin Tovey Pro Foilboard

Mid-Length FG FoilBoard

Wing FG  

Surf Foilboards

Downwind 

Downwind MKII Foilboard

Downwind Ocean Foilboard

XPS

XPS MKII Wing


XPS Lightwind  

Matt Nuzzo and Chris Rutledge chase hurricane swell in Hatteras Inlet on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Matt chose the Foil Drive Assist MAX for this session, and Chris jumped on the Lift X to rip around the inlet. 

List of gear in this video: 

Matt’s Rig:

Foil Drive Assist MAX 

Armstrong 795 /185 Integrated Mast


Armstrong MA MKII 890


Armstrong Surf MKII 200


Armstrong 60 Fuse 


Armstrong Surf Foilboard – 36L 

Chris’s Rig:

Lift X 4’8 w/ High Prop Mast 

Lift Havoc 148 / Flow 31

 

If you want to learn how to Foil Drive give us a call at the REAL Watersports shop. 252-987-6000