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Home  Venues Holiday Destinations Cape Verde, Sal
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Written by SJ
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Monday, 28 February 2005 |
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I went to Sal on Cape Verde with Planet Windsurf in May 2003 for 2 weeks.
The beach is a very long
and sandy sweep of a bay.
At either end there are wave breaks, which you have to sail to from the windsurf centre.
This is coming on for 1/2 mile from the centre of the bay.
To the left (upwind) of the bay there is weak waves coming round a point.
To the right (downwind) there stronger waves where kit damage is more likely.
In the centre of the bay it's great for blasting.
The wind blows from left to right.
There are two Planet Windsurf Centres.
One at the far left of the beach. The beach here has rocks and is not so nice, but is closer to the upwind waves.
The other is smaller and more central, this has flatter water and some small moored boats to avoid upwind and a nicer bit of beach.
Further on downwind is the Club Mistral Centre (available through Sportif)
I stayed at Hotel Morabeza behind the central PW centre, which is a good option if you have a non-windsurfing partner.
Rooms could do with a better "finish" but pleased we stayed there. (Pool, nice restaurant area, decking, sheltered sun beds)
I sailed every day, but mainly on 6.0m2 / 6.5m2.
I sailed on 5.0m2 a couple of days and maybe 5.5m2 a once.
I had some kitesurfing lessons, and it's seems a reasonable place to learn.
The waves were only of a reasonable size on maybe 3 or 4 days.
One day the shore break was quite big. It gets bigger the further downwind you go along the beach.
I talked to the bloke at the PW centre about the best time to go.
He said that May was getting towards the end of the main season and operations were being scaled down.
He said you get the strongest wind and best waves in Dec, Jan & Feb.
The famous break of Punta Preta (which is around the down wind point, about a mile or so away) only works occasionally.
A big swell is required which opposes the trade winds. (It was flat all the time we were there).
You would not sail there if it was working unless you're a brilliant wave sailor.
The town has a slight 3rd worldy feel to it at first and it's not good for partying till dawn.
Has some good restaurants, especially if you like sea food. Very cheap lobster.
Not a great deal to see on the Island apart from Salt flats and a awesome desolate feel to the landscape away from the beach.
A walk in either direction following the coast is recommended.
Portuguese is the first language, French is the second language. Most people involved with tourists know a bit of English.
A phase book might be useful though, as well as trying to remember some French.
The were big queues to change travellers cheques at the bank.
It's great to see the local fishermen unload there catch on to the rickety pier.
All in all it was good Windsurfing in a place with quite a different feel about it, and I'm pleased I went.
My Wife liked it too, but she is happy with Sun, Sea, Sand and a good book.
I have some digital photos which I can post if you're interested.
http://www.planetwindsurf.co.uk/
http:/www.sportif-uk.com
http://www.hotelmorabeza.com/
http://www.angulocaboverde.com/
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Dates - 29th Jan - 10th Feb.
Conbditions - 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.
For kitesurfers - kite beach is a 10 min jeep ride away costing 14euros (return), or less if you haggle. Kite beach is onshore, so much safer for learning, but also has more waves/ chop, and on the day I was there around 50 kiters were out.... I kited on the Riu hotel beach everyday with only 1 or 2 other people and enjoyed it much more than kite beach.
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). Food was also good, but a little repetative after 2 weeks.
***THE SAILING***BE AWARE***THIS IS AN 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 with a not too bad shorebreak. 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, 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!!!).
***Summary***
As its an offshore venue I'd recommend this to people who won't be sailing on their own, and who are confident sailing upwind.
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.....