Hatteras Island Sail Shop

The Hatteras Island Sail Shop is the store and windsurf, kite and wing lesson base of the family that also runs the Hatteras Island Surf Shop. It sits in Waves on the Pamlico Sound side (Outer Banks, North Carolina), behind a Dairy Queen. The site, a long-time launch for Hatteras windsurfers and early kiters, has a hard sandy bottom, waist-deep water and good exposure to southwest winds.

Lessons take place directly on the beach behind the shop: an intro to windsurfing with Barton, who has taught for over 40 years, an intro to kiteboarding (30 minutes of beach theory, then control of a 4-line inflatable kite in the water), private kiteboarding lessons, an intro to wing on a wind SUP followed by private wing foil lessons with a jet ski and walkie-talkies, and e-foil lessons. The lesson staff is 3 to 4 instructors.

The shop sells and rents kiteboarding, wing, foil, windsurfing and paddleboard gear. Brands visible on the website include Airush, Prolimit and Cabrinha.

Store open daily 10 am to 5 pm from mid-March to late November (hours shown on the website); appointments possible in the off season. The online store is open year-round.