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kristinAdicora
Location: Western coast of Venezuela
Gear and Accommodations: Gear and lessons available for $150-$200 per week or $35-$50 per day. Spartan but reliable accommodations can be had for $5-$20 per night in guest houses. There are no hotels.
Hot Spots: El Pico, Matagorda.
Description: Great wind and waves. Definitely off the beaten path. Deep reef with a low-risk to high-reward ratio. Old-world Dutch and Spanish architecture. Local economy based on fishing and tourism. Very inexpensive place to visit.
Contacts: Adicora High Wind & Waves, 011-58-2-793-9517; Windsurfing Moustacho, 011-58-69-88-210; Windsurf Adicora, gilberto.mehtar@ccs.internet.ve.
Antigua
Location: British West Indies
Gear and Accommodations: Take slalom and wave gear and 4.5 to 6.5 sails. Rental gear and accommodations are plentiful, but Antigua is not among the least expensive of places on the planet to visit.
Hot Spots: Lord Nelson Beach, Half Moon Bay, Dutchman's Bay, Dickenson Bay.
Description: Warm emerald waters, white-sand beaches and a way Caribbean attitude right in the middle of the easterly trades. Venues for novices to the decent wave sailor. No doubt, the beaches are Antigua's claim to fame. Locals say there's one beach for each day of the year.
Contacts: Antigua Department of Tourism, 212-541-4117; Sandals, 800-SANDALS; Windsurfing Lord Nelson (Patrick's Windsurfing School), 268-462-WIND.
Aruba
Location: Southern Caribbean off Venezuela
Gear and Accommodations: Take slalom or high-wind slalom boards and 6.5 to 4.0 sails. You'll find ample gear and instruction on island, as well as lodgings ranging from five-star hotels and beachfront condos to villas and studios.
Hot Spots: Fisherman's Huts, Arashi Beach Park, Surfside, Barcadera, Rodger's Beach, Boca Grandi.
Description: Cranking winds, flat waters, tons of great gear, killer accommodations and a party atmosphere. Very dependable trades with 300 days a year blowing shortboard conditions. Predominantly offshore winds and flat water, but the adventurous can find some fun wave sailing.
Contacts: Aruba Hotel & Tourism Authority, 011-297-822-607; Aruba Marriott, 800-223-6388; Aruba Tourism Authority, 011-297-823-777; Great Southern, 800-748-8733; Sailboard Vacations, 800-252-1070; Sailboards Aruba, 011-297-866-654; Roger's Windsurf Aruba, 800-225-0102; Vela Windsurf Resorts, 800-223-5443; Windsurf Village, 011-297-862-527.
Australia (Western)
Location: The Land Down Under
Gear and Accommodations: Take slalom and wave gear. Up-to-date equipment is plentiful at the many shops located throughout W.A. The country is filled with caravan parks (campgrounds), lodges, backpacker hostels, houses and “pilgrim retreats” as well as hotels in and around the cities.
Hot Spots: Gnarloo, Carnarvon, Monkey Mia, Kalbarri, Geraldton, Leeman and Snag Island, Jurien Bay and Cervantes, Lancelin, Perth, Mandurah, Bunbury and Australind, Margaret River, Esperence, Cervanties.
Description: Hailed as one of the greatest places on earth to windsurf by virtue of its fresh sea breezes, clean beaches and uncrowded waters, Western Oz offers all types of sailing for all levels of sailors. Contacts: Broadway Surf and Sail, 011-61-9-386-7876, 011-61-9-386-6089; Sail West, 011-61-99-641-722; Geraldton Surf Co.,11-61-99-645-533; Lancelin Sailboard School and Hire, 011-61-96-55-1422; Werner's Hot Spots, 011-61-96-55-1448; Lancelin Surf Sports,
011-61-96-55-1441.
Baja East
Location: Southeast coast of the Baja peninsula
Gear and Accommodations: Take your 9-foot convertible with a 5.5 and bump-and-jump gear. Equipment is available in the Los Barilles area, as are hotels and private villas. As a whole, Mexico is a fairly inexpensive place to visit.
Hot Spots: Playa del Sol, Palmas de Cortez, Rancho Buena Vista Hotel.
Description: The West Coast's best winter wind. A multi-sport paradise you can drive to. El Norte winds provide an on-again, off-again 15 to 25 knots with up to 6-foot swells. Intermediates on up do best here. Novices are limited.
Contacts: Baja Adventures/Mr. Bill's, 541-386-7639; Diamond Resort 800-858-2258; Excursions Extraordinaires, 800-678-2252; Capt. Kirk's La Ventana, 310-833-3397; Mexican Consulate, 305-716-4979; Mexican Government Tourist Board, 305-443-9160; Vela Windsurf Resorts, 800-223-5443; Solo Sports, 714-837-1396.
Baja West
Location: Western coast of the Baja peninsula
Gear and Accommodations: Take wave gear: boards in the 8'3″ to 8'7″ range and sails from 5.5 to 3.5. Remember, this is Baja. There are no rentals, hotels or accommodations of any kind - just sand and water.
Hot Spots: Find 'em. The whole coast can get good wind and waves. Pick your own spot.
Description: Wave sailing is epic here, but be prepared. You're going to have to four-wheel it and camp or fly in for the day because there's nothing but prime sailing Baja beach.
Contacts: Mexican Consulate, 305-716-4979; Mexican Government Tourist Board, 305-443-9160; Solo Sports, 714-837-1396.
Barbados
Location: Most windward of the Caribbean islands
Gear and Accommodations: Take a 5.3 wave sail and a floaty wave board as well as slalom gear. Up-to-date gear is available. Most hotels near the windsurfing venues are beachfront and moderately priced. Quaint cottages, condos and villas are also available.
Hot Spots: Heywoods, Grand Barbados, Discovery Bay, Silver Sands, Benson Beach, Oisten's Bay.
Description: Comfortable surf, with some 8 feet of safe water between you and the reef below make for great novice-to-expert wave sailing.
Contacts: Barbados Board of Tourism, 800-221-9831; Sailboard Vacations, 800-252-1070; Sandals, 800-SANDALS; Silver Rock Windsurfing, 809-428-2866; Windsurfing Vacations, 800-635-1155; Roger's Windsurf Bonaire, 800-225-0102; Sailboard Center, 800-253-6573; Sailboard Vacations, 800-252-1070.
Brazil
Location: Western coast of South America
Gear and Accommodations: With this much ground to cover, anything's possible. If you're planning on an extended windsurfing trip, it's best to take your own gear, which you can probably sell when you leave.
Hot Spots: Ilha Bela, Vitoria, Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro, Florianopolis, Buzius.
Description: Because there are only a few thousand windsurfers in the entire country of 100 million people, you'll be both a rock star and an anomaly.
Contacts: Hi Winds Brazil Windsurfing Shop (Sco Paulo), 011-55-11-542-7699; Hi Winds Brazil Windsurfing Shop (Rio), 011-55-21-493-8668, 011-55-21-493-5587; Open Wind Windsurfing Shop (Florianopolis), 011-55-48-232-0104.
British Virgin Islands
Location: Easternmost of the Virgin Islands chain
Gear and Accommodations: Take a large course-slalom board and 8.0 to 6.0 sail. Windsurfing gear and travel packages abound. Accommodations range from reasonable to high. But what the heck, you're on vacation.
Hot Spots: Charter a windsurfing-equipped boat from Boardsailing BVI and island-hop and launch anywhere.
Description: The BVI's many small islands dotting the region provide safety and adventure. Consistent 12- to 20-knot trades, and a multitude of cays and bays keep the novice longboarder to the high-end slalom sailor happy.
Contacts: Bitter End Yacht Club, 800-872-2392; BVI Tourist Board, 212-696-0400; Boardsailing BVI, 800-880-SURF; Katimavik Bare-Boat Cruises, 800-252-1070; Moorings Mariner Inn, 800-535-7289; Nanny Cay Resort and Marina 800-74-CHARMS; Vela Windsurf Resorts, 800-223-5443; Windsurfing Tortola/Oce
an Promotions, 809-494-0337.
Canary Islands
Location: Northwestern coast of Africa
Gear and Accommodations:Hotels, restaurants and nightclubs run the gamut. Lots of shops with up-to-date gear for sale and rent, but call ahead to reserve.
Hot Spots: Pozo Izquierdo and Playa Vargas on Gran Canaria, El Cabezo in Tenerife, Sotavento in Fuerteventura, Las Cucharas in Lanzarote.
Description: The weather and geography of the Canaries are made for windsurfing. Long warm summers, tepid winters, beautiful stretches of golden sand, clear blue water and wind - lots of wind!
Contacts: Gran Canaria Tourism Office, 28 36 22 22 (e-mail: dpromoc@idecnet.com; Club Mistral, 28 77 40 25; F2 Surfcenter, 28 76 29 58/78
Cape Hatteras
Location: Central coast of North Carolina
Gear and Accommodations: Take everything. Lots of shops, lots of gear, lots of places to stay, and all at pretty cheap rates.
Hot Spots: Nags Head, Hatteras Island, Rodanthe, Avon, Canadian Hole, Frisco Woods.
Description: Miles of shallow water in the sound. Miles of killer wave-sailing on the beach. Hatteras has it all. There are few places with this much sailing diversity. Great shallow waters for learning. Beginners to experts will do well here.
Contacts: Dare County Tourist Board, 919-473-2138; Fox Watersports, 919-995-4102; Frisco Watersports, 919-995-5208; Hatteras Realty, 800-428-8372; Hatteras Wind & Surf, 919-995-6275; Hatteras Island Surf Shop, 919-987-2296; Kitty Hawk Sports, 919-441-2756; Outer Beaches Realty, 919-995-4477; North Beach Sailing Center, 919-261-7100; Sail World, 919-995-5441; Sun Realty, 800-843-2034; Village Realty, 800-548-9688; Windsurfing Hatteras, 919-995-4970.
Cayman Islands
Location: West Indies
Gear and Accommodations: Take a 9'2″ slalom board with a 6.5. A pretty full range of rental equipment is available. A nice variety of accommodations exist in the George Town region and on Seven Mile Beach, all at pretty significant bucks. If you hunt for them, you can find more reasonably priced accommodations, but they're usually a fair distance from the action.
Hot Spots: Morritt's Tortuga Club, Deadman's Religion, North Sound.
Description: From beaches and emerald water to night life, it's the Car-8668, 011-55-21-493-5587; Open Wind Windsurfing Shop (Florianopolis), 011-55-48-232-0104.
British Virgin Islands
Location: Easternmost of the Virgin Islands chain
Gear and Accommodations: Take a large course-slalom board and 8.0 to 6.0 sail. Windsurfing gear and travel packages abound. Accommodations range from reasonable to high. But what the heck, you're on vacation.
Hot Spots: Charter a windsurfing-equipped boat from Boardsailing BVI and island-hop and launch anywhere.
Description: The BVI's many small islands dotting the region provide safety and adventure. Consistent 12- to 20-knot trades, and a multitude of cays and bays keep the novice longboarder to the high-end slalom sailor happy.
Contacts: Bitter End Yacht Club, 800-872-2392; BVI Tourist Board, 212-696-0400; Boardsailing BVI, 800-880-SURF; Katimavik Bare-Boat Cruises, 800-252-1070; Moorings Mariner Inn, 800-535-7289; Nanny Cay Resort and Marina 800-74-CHARMS; Vela Windsurf Resorts, 800-223-5443; Windsurfing Tortola/Ocean Promotions, 809-494-0337.
Canary Islands
Location: Northwestern coast of Africa
Gear and Accommodations:Hotels, restaurants and nightclubs run the gamut. Lots of shops with up-to-date gear for sale and rent, but call ahead to reserve.
Hot Spots: Pozo Izquierdo and Playa Vargas on Gran Canaria, El Cabezo in Tenerife, Sotavento in Fuerteventura, Las Cucharas in Lanzarote.
Description: The weather and geography of the Canaries are made for windsurfing. Long warm summers, tepid winters, beautiful stretches of golden sand, clear blue water and wind - lots of wind!
Contacts: Gran Canaria Tourism Office, 28 36 22 22 (e-mail: dpromoc@idecnet.com; Club Mistral, 28 77 40 25; F2 Surfcenter, 28 76 29 58/78
Cape Hatteras
Location: Central coast of North Carolina
Gear and Accommodations: Take everything. Lots of shops, lots of gear, lots of places to stay, and all at pretty cheap rates.
Hot Spots: Nags Head, Hatteras Island, Rodanthe, Avon, Canadian Hole, Frisco Woods.
Description: Miles of shallow water in the sound. Miles of killer wave-sailing on the beach. Hatteras has it all. There are few places with this much sailing diversity. Great shallow waters for learning. Beginners to experts will do well here.
Contacts: Dare County Tourist Board, 919-473-2138; Fox Watersports, 919-995-4102; Frisco Watersports, 919-995-5208; Hatteras Realty, 800-428-8372; Hatteras Wind & Surf, 919-995-6275; Hatteras Island Surf Shop, 919-987-2296; Kitty Hawk Sports, 919-441-2756; Outer Beaches Realty, 919-995-4477; North Beach Sailing Center, 919-261-7100; Sail World, 919-995-5441; Sun Realty, 800-843-2034; Village Realty, 800-548-9688; Windsurfing Hatteras, 919-995-4970.
Cayman Islands
Location: West Indies
Gear and Accommodations: Take a 9'2″ slalom board with a 6.5. A pretty full range of rental equipment is available. A nice variety of accommodations exist in the George Town region and on Seven Mile Beach, all at pretty significant bucks. If you hunt for them, you can find more reasonably priced accommodations, but they're usually a fair distance from the action.
Hot Spots: Morritt's Tortuga Club, Deadman's Religion, North Sound.
Description: From beaches and emerald water to night life, it's the Caribbean at its finest. Northeast trades blowing a fairly consistent 10 to 20 knots offer great flat-water to bump-and-jump sailing for novices and experts alike.
Contacts: Cayman Islands Tourist Board, 305-266-2300; Cayman Windsurfing, 809-947-7492; Windsurfing Vacations, 800-635-1155.
Colombia
Location: South America
Gear and Accommodations: Take a 4.0, a 5.0 and a 6.0, and chances are you'll sail every day.
Hot Spots: Lake Calima; Cabo de la Vela.
Description: Calima is known throughout South America for its unparalleled consistency of at least 15 knots six days a week. Usual gear ranges from 5.0s to 7.8s with slalom boards, and frequently there are good bump-and-jump days. Cabo de la Vela is an amazing spot that frequently sees 30 knots and higher. However, it is one of the less inhabited areas and accessed only by four-wheel-drive vehicle.
Contacts: Pablo Castro (English-speaking Cali windsurfer), 011-572-555-2290.
Corpus Christi, Texas
Location: Southern Texas
Gear and Accommodations: Take a 6.0 slalom sail and a 4.5 wave sail with a small slalom board or convertible. Up-to-date rental equipment is available. Plenty of hotels and motels - not necessarily within walking distance, however.
Hot Spots: Cole Park, Port Aransas, the Pier.
Description: Amazingly consistent and strong winds late winter through midsummer. Enough launch sites and conditions for any level of sailor. A fun local sailing scene. The water is warm, the wind is strong, the living is inexpensive.
Contacts: Corpus Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800-678-6232; Worldwinds, 800-793-7471.
Costa Rica (Lake Arenal)
Location: 1,800 feet above sea level in Central America
Gear and Accommodations: Bump-and-jump. Rental gear is available. Hotel Tilawa and a variety of eco-lodges are the places to stay.
Hot Spots: Entire west end of the lake. Water-level fluctuations keep the best launches moving.
Description: A shortboarder's epiphany. Great wind, freshwater bump-and-jump sailing! The coast is virtually unta
pped for its potential.
Contacts: Costa Rica Tourism Department, 800-343-6332; Excursions Extraordinaires, 800-678-2252; Tilawa Viento Surf, 800-851-8929; Windsurfing Vacations, 800-635-1155.
Dominican Republic
Location: West Indies
Gear and Accommodations: Take your convertible board. The stretch of beach in Cabarete is dotted with windsurfing concessions. Although there are no five-star hotels, Cabarete has a variety of accommodations options, most of which are reasonably priced.
Hot Spots: There are several, but rarely does anyone stray from Cabarete.
Description: Beginners sail the shore. Speed-slalom sailors cruise the flats. Loopers sail the reef break a quarter-mile out. You basically sail, eat, party and sleep within walking distance all week long. There's sailing for everyone in the D.R.
Egypt
Location: The Red Sea
Gear and Accommodations: The Pro Center in Jasmin Village, 10 miles outside Hurghada, is the largest windsurf center, with 130 F2 boards and 170 Neil Pryde sails. Full range of accommodations.
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