Barbados?

Has anyone sailed at the Club Mistral sites on Barbados? Thinking of
february. Any feedback on Club Mistral, the winds, beach, water,
accomodations, etc?
TIA

--
Brian

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

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
>

I was there Dec 23 - Jan 2. Last season was supposedly quite windy.
But keep in mind that Barbados is not a place with strong winds. It
doesn't seem to get much better than 5.0 very often. I have no idea
about the wind in March.

Rental: you actually rent a specific board (not just model). So you
basically take a little gamble on the volume. Having said that, their
rental fleet is big enough to accommodate you most of the time in case
you'd like to try a different board.

The gear is rigged at both locations.

If you're still working on your waterstarts, absolutely stay away from
the wave spot. I am not sure I would recommend Barbados as the first
wave sailing experience either because the waves (though soft) are
sizeable. Just sail Oistins. There are some hotels right next to the
Oistins spot. One of them - the Butterfly Beach - had just finished
renovation when we arrived. That's where we stayed.

But quite frankly, I think there are better islands in the Caribbean
particularly for your girlfriend. The Oistins beach is small and does
not really create that magical Caribbean feeling. Furthermore, there
is a wind-shadow on the inside and you have to get out first beyond the
windline (about 100yds as far as I recall). Furthermore, the water
gets deep immediately and a little bit out, it is pitch black.

Have you considered Bonaire? The conditions there are much more suited
for what your girlfriend wants to practice: shallow water, completely
safe and beautiful beach. If interested, let me know. I've been there
as well a few years back and can recommend accomodations.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Thanks again. It turns out that Mistral has closed th Oistins location, so
we might look elsewhere. thanks for all the good info.
brian

<windnwaves@**********> wrote in message
news:1161093116.982905.240060@k70g2000cwa.******** o********...
> I was there Dec 23 - Jan 2. Last season was supposedly quite windy.
> But keep in mind that Barbados is not a place with strong winds. It
> doesn't seem to get much better than 5.0 very often. I have no idea
> about the wind in March.
>
> Rental: you actually rent a specific board (not just model). So you
> basically take a little gamble on the volume. Having said that, their
> rental fleet is big enough to accommodate you most of the time in case
> you'd like to try a different board.
>
> The gear is rigged at both locations.
>
> If you're still working on your waterstarts, absolutely stay away from
> the wave spot. I am not sure I would recommend Barbados as the first
> wave sailing experience either because the waves (though soft) are
> sizeable. Just sail Oistins. There are some hotels right next to the
> Oistins spot. One of them - the Butterfly Beach - had just finished
> renovation when we arrived. That's where we stayed.
>
> But quite frankly, I think there are better islands in the Caribbean
> particularly for your girlfriend. The Oistins beach is small and does
> not really create that magical Caribbean feeling. Furthermore, there
> is a wind-shadow on the inside and you have to get out first beyond the
> windline (about 100yds as far as I recall). Furthermore, the water
> gets deep immediately and a little bit out, it is pitch black.
>
> Have you considered Bonaire? The conditions there are much more suited
> for what your girlfriend wants to practice: shallow water, completely
> safe and beautiful beach. If interested, let me know. I've been there
> as well a few years back and can recommend accomodations.
>
> Hope this helps
>
> Cheers
>

And I live and teach on Bonaire. Happy to help with any questions.

Mark Paine


windnwaves@********** wrote:
> Have you considered Bonaire? The conditions there are much more suited
> for what your girlfriend wants to practice: shallow water, completely
> safe and beautiful beach. If interested, let me know. I've been there
> as well a few years back and can recommend accomodations.

Now I'm considering a trip to Barbados. If there's no wind, can you
surf at the windsurfing spot? Or do you have to go elsewhere, and how
easy is that to do? Though I'd probably rent a car for a day or so, it
would be nice to have everything within walking distance.

Sizeable shore break, but after a tip from
the station manager, I never had any problems.

What was the tip?

TIA

This is an attempt to answer two questions:

Barbados and surfing. I don't see why you wouldn't be able to surf at
Silver Sands. My impression was that there are better spots for pure
surfing (e.g. Soup Bowl). At least, that's were all the surfers went.
But you need a car to get there.

Shorebreak: It was a standard technique (as I now know in
retrospective) for getting through the shorebreak. Nothing special.
You'll see it e.g. in Peter Hart's "Let's go wavesailing" video

Cheers