Photo: DanTD, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
We have hosted thousands of families on this beach since 2013, and the ocean here is gentle far more often than not: a sandbar 30 to 40 feet out that knocks the surf down, and tidal pools late in the day that the toddlers claim. But every guest gets the same talk from us, and here it is in writing.
Rip currents: the one thing to actually know
A rip current is a narrow channel of water flowing away from the beach, usually through a gap in the sandbar. It will not pull you under. It pulls you out. The mistake that hurts people is fighting it straight back toward shore until they are exhausted.
- Spot it: a darker, calmer gap between lines of breaking waves, often with foam or sand moving seaward.
- If caught: stay calm, float, and swim parallel to the beach until you are out of the current, then angle back to shore. Wave and yell if you need help.
- If someone else is caught: do not swim out after them. Throw something that floats, call 911, and keep eyes on them.
Check the forecast each morning
The National Weather Service in Wilmington publishes a daily rip current risk for Onslow County beaches. Low, moderate, or high: we check it with our coffee and so should you. High risk days are usually breezy days after a storm offshore, and they are perfect for the pool at St. Regis, shelling, or the turtle hospital instead.
No lifeguards on the north end
North Topsail Beach does not staff lifeguards on the beach behind our homes. That is part of why it is quiet, and it is why a grown-up stays at the waterline whenever kids are in past their knees. Coast Guard approved life jackets for the little ones are a good idea on any day with surf.
Other things worth knowing
- Shuffle your feet in the shallows in late summer. Rays rest in the sand and will move if they feel you coming.
- Fill in your holes before you leave the beach each day. Deep holes are a hazard for walkers at dusk and for nesting sea turtles.
- Sun: the sea breeze hides how strong it is. Reapply at lunch. Our decks have shade and the condos have covered balconies.
- Lightning: summer storms roll in fast. When you hear thunder, head up to the deck and watch it from there.
- Dogs: keep them leashed near the water in surf, and give the ocean a rinse at the outdoor shower afterward.
None of this should scare anyone off. It is a beach where children learn to swim in the ocean every summer. It just rewards families who pay attention, and we would rather you read this once than learn it the hard way.
Quick answers
Are there lifeguards at North Topsail Beach?
No. The beach behind our homes on the north end is unguarded, so an adult should stay at the water's edge whenever children are swimming.
What should I do if I get caught in a rip current?
Do not fight it. Float, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current, then swim back at an angle. Wave for help if you need it.
Where do I check the rip current forecast for Topsail Island?
The National Weather Service Wilmington office posts a daily surf zone forecast with a rip current risk for Onslow County beaches, including North Topsail Beach.
Oceanfront, with a gate on the deck
Our beach houses have gated oceanfront decks and private walkways, so the walk to the water is short and the kids stay in sight.