 Barbados?
Thanks for the detailed info. If you don't mind, what dates were you there?
It looks like the wind charts show a typical dive in March. Also, the
"typical" sail sizes mentioned on the sites seem too small for the wind
speeds.
When you say that you rent a fixed board, I assume you mean a specific model
(not a specific board)? How easy is it to change if you adjust to the
conditions? I assume the gear is rigged and onsite at the beach?
Neither I nor my girlfriend have sailed waves. She's working on her
waterstarts. Would this be friendly place to start? If not and we primarily
sailed Oistins, do you know a good place to stay there?
Thanks again.
Brian
<windnwaves@> wrote in message
news:1161018676.256705.80520@k70g2000cwa. ...
> I've been to Barbados last winter. Here are my impressions as a wave
> novice.
>
> All in all, I had a wonderful time. I was there 10 days and had wind on
> 7 days. 3 days were great: 5.3 conditions. (I'm 82kg).
>
> I mostly sailed at SilverSands (the wave spot at the southern tip of
> Barbados) but also joined my wife at the Oistins spot 2-3 afternoons.
>
> SilverSands:
> Incredibly beautiful beach. Sizeable shore break, but after a tip from
> the station manager, I never had any problems getting out. Wind was
> always side-shore with port-tack jumping. About 300 meters out is a
> reef that creates wonderful breaking waves, typically in sets of 5 or
> so. The wave face can be steep but is not hollow and the waves break
> softly. The reef is about 6ft deep so it is quite safe. While I was
> there, the waves at the reef where 5-7ft. Obviously, I took a tumble
> between the waves a few times, but the wave isn't too powerful, so I
> felt quite safe. Outside the reef, there is very nice ocean swell also
> around 5-7ft (while I was there). The swell moves at a slightly
> different angle (more downwind) than the waves at the reef. I was told
> that when the swell comes in parallel to the reef, the waves can get
> really big (1 1/2 mast high). There is a slight downwind current that
> was never really a problem. It was never crowded while I was there and
> the crowd was VERY friendly.
>
> Kiters and windsurfers seem to get a long quite well there. Most kiters
> launched from the next beach upwind around the corner. Kitesurfing
> instructions are also offered by Club-Mistral and a another
> kite-surfing school located close by.
>
> Accommodations: The most convenient place to stay is probably the
> SilverSands hotel. It is literally right on the beach. Folks who
> brought their equipment just left it under a wooden boardwalk that runs
> on top of the dune. The boardwalk is also protected by shade from Palm
> trees the whole day.
>
> Renting: These days, only Club Mistral. Equipment was very new and very
> well maintained. Since the wind at SilverSands starts to blow
> early, the station opens at 8am and on really good days even earlier.
> Very nice!
>
>
> Oistins:
> About a 10min drive (or via mini-van taxi) from Silver Sands. Flat
> water, a bit light on the inside, but once you clear the windline, it's
> quite reliable. The Oistins beaches are not as spectacular as
> SilverSands, but still nice and much safer for kids as they have very
> little shore break. Renting equipment also through Club-Mistral. BTW:
> renting with them works as follows. You rent a fixed board at your
> favorite spot (SilverSands or Oistins) but can sail at the other
> respective location assuming they have equipment available, which is
> usually the case
>
> Dining:
> There are some very nice restaurants on the island. They are also
> quite pricey... What we enjoyed most was to have dinner at the Oistins
> fish market: cheap, yummy and highly enjoyable (as long as you are not
> into formal dining)
>
> Other than that, the island is beautiful. We rented a car and drove
> around quite a bit and also visited the famous SoupBowl spot on the
> east coast. Mostly frequented by surfers and supposedly very
> challenging. (Big rocks under the surface, powerful waves and strong
> currents). Supposedly accessible to EXPERT windsurfers if the wind is
> right (trade winds typically create dead on-shore winds there).
>
>
>
> Hope this was of help
>
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