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Sports, the choices are ENDLESS Windsurfing
Besides Hawaii, Barbados is one of the best wave windsurfing spots of the world. The chances of wind are high and the waves are perfect for jumping and waveriding in sideshore winds. Not only wave cracks, speed freaks and beginners as well will find dream conditions in the 27°C warm waters of the South Coast on this most easterly situated Caribbean island. The best time to spend your windsurfing vacation in Barbados is the period of time when the cooling trade winds blow with high consistency over the island's shores, namely from mid November to the end of June. But that does not mean the rest of the year couldn't be as good or even better. During the hurricane season which starts 1st of June all the way through to November all sorts of conditions are possible. The trades usually blow at a moderate windspeed. Mostly used sails are 5.0 - 5.5 m2 followed by a sail size around 4.7 m2. But it definitely does not mean you should leave your 4.5 m2, 4.0 m2 or 3.5 m2 at home. The waves in Barbados are by far not as mighty and powerful as in Hawaii, although they can reach mast high and above. They can be excellent quality waves and they are forgiving. Compared to Hawaiian waves, they are slower and not as powerful but as perfect to be good enough to let a top wave professional have a good time. On the other hand, wave beginners don't have to really fear anything. Get information from a local before your first ride out and you will be fine. The spot to windsurf in Barbados, is the area of Silver Sands, where the conditions are challenging yet forgiving. To describe Silver Sands in one sentence: it is a wonderful spot for beginners and top guys alike. For Board rentals and spare parts, Brian Talma's shop at Silver Rock is the first address. Club Mistral is also represented with two stations, one in Silver Sands and one in Oistins, where the water is flat and suits intermediate surfers and beginners. Written by Wolfgang Lange, Inchcape Seaside Villas and Apts
Barbados - for a fantastic surfing vacation Club Mistral Oistins is the perfect freeride location for intermediate-level windsurfers who wish to perfect their manoeuvres up to the wave stage – or for jump novices, who can practice in the 1.5m-high swell further out. You can start without any hassles behind the shorebreak in waist-deep water and enjoy the unique experience of gliding along through the balmy, turquoise water. In the wide bay, the tradewind blows sideshore on port tack (south-east to north-east). Switching sails, a tiresome feature of a number of other venues, is not necessary on Barbados, as the wind force hardly changes at all on most days. Silver Sands Beach offers ideal conditions for wave novices and wave freaks. The reef, 250m offshore and with a swell of 1 to 2 meters, offers a smooth wave face for riding down the line with the wind. There are no limits to surfing creativity: Silver Sands offers ideal conditions for both, classical waveriding and new moves like pushloop or air jibe. With the arrival of big swells, the waves can pick up to massive 5 meters on some days in the season! With two Club Mistral centres on Barbados, those who have the necessary skills can try out both surf locations. If you are unsure about whether you can manage the waves in Silver Sands, you can surf in Oistins for a week to get back into the swing of things before moving on to the thrills and spills at Silver Sands for the second week of your vacation. Contributed by Club Mistral Barbados
ome September the fax machines in a group of hotels clustered around the southern tip of Barbados begin to hum. Reservation requests pour in from Argentinian doctors, Brazilian engineers, Japanese businessmen, German industrialists, European royalty, Italian fashion designers, Swiss bankers and American executives. The reason, an international convention, an offshore banking investment group, a special party for the super rich? ....... No! ....... they are coming for the wind, they are the wind hunters. Written by Michael Whittaker, former General Manager, Silver Sands Resort
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