I just got back from Cape Verde.... Had a damn fine time!!

Dates - 29th Jan - 10th Feb.

Weather Conditions - It was 20-25kts all day, everyday - and blazing sun for all but 3 of them. Outstanding! I wore a knackered holey shortie with a 2mm vest under it & I never got cold.

Accomodation - I stayed at the all inclusive Riu Garopa Hotel. Booked it all through thompson. Hotel was nice once we got ourselves a good room (we changed rooms twice until we got one with a balcony facing the sun on the 1st floor - the 1st 2 rooms we got were very average, so it was well worth the hassle and really made the holiday. So if you go - I'd recommend insisting on a 1st flr room with nice sunny balcony). Food was also good, but a little repetative after 2 weeks (i'm getting myself a dirty great big take-away curry for tea tonight!!! YUM!).

***THE SAILING***BE AWARE***THIS HOTEL IS A CROSS/OFFSHORE VENUE***
The diving/ windsurfing centre on the beach has rescue facilities but charge 35euros for the service!!

The water immediately outside the hotel is flat as a pancake with a short shorebreak thats easy to get through if u time it right. Great for free styling, as demonstrated by the superstar working at the centre - doing all kinds trickery I dont know the names for, but he was rarely seen sailing forwards in a straight line...

***THE WAVES*** The world famous, and awesome Ponta Preta wave break is 200m upwind from this hotel. It was firing the whole time I was there, (often with not a single person on it!) between head & double overhead height. It takes 2 tacks from the hotel until you can catch your 1st monster wave - which you may find yourself sharing with the likes of Josh Angulo & Kauli Seadi (a rather odd experience!!!). It seemed very quiet in the mornings until about 2pm, then had half a dozen kiters & 3 or 4 windsurfers... Plenty of waves for all.

The wave was very predictable, and as such it wasnt too hard to catch them halfway down, where they were head height or less, and much less scary, but still perfectly formed and with about another 6 or 7 bottom turns left to crank out. If you blow it though, your gear is likely to get washed up on rocks....



Other stuff

The island is TINY and theres very little else to do than play in the sea & sun worship. The hotel has tennis, swimming pools etc & is damn nice - I played tennis every morning & loved it... But if your after culture, history & places to visit, you will be sadly disappointed.

***Summary***

As its an offshore venue I'd recommend this to people who will be sailing with a buddy, or even better, several buddies - and who are confident sailing upwind. Its not a busy place, so if you go on your own you may end up sailing on your own (i did this a lot with no problems, but always had it in the back of my mind..)

If you are a freestyler looking for flat warm blue water with strong reliable winds, you will love this place.

If you are looking for big , perfectly formed long peeling waves - this is your mecca.....








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