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CB Workflows
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Written by Donald Reid
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Tuesday, 23 August 2005 |
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El Tur is on the west coast of the Sinai about an hour and a half north of Sharm El Sheik it enjoys
the usual reliable Red Sea winds - in my 15 days there in August I sailed every day, on the good days it was windy from dawn til early evening. Most sailing was with 6.0-4.5m sails. I went with El Tur Windsurfing which is a small UK run centre catering mainly to UK, German and Polish sailors. It’s run by Rick and Jeanette who will do their very best to ensure you have a good trip. There is another small Russian centre. This also does Kite surfing but during my visit there was only the occasional one out. If kite-surfing really takes off it here it could become a problem as the bay isn’t really big enough to allow happy co-existence!. Both centres use the Moses Bay Hotel for accommodation, this is a small fairly basic hotel but it’s friendly and provides everything you’ll need including buffet breakfast and evening meal and a bar serving drinks and lunches down on the beach. The whole place has an easy-going relaxed atmosphere
Sailing in the bay is on flat water with some wind chop – ideal for blasting or for freestyle. As it’s offshore it can seem a bit gusty but you soon learn the patterns across the bay and it’s not really an issue. You can easily sail out of the bay into the Gulf of Suez where large rolling swell provides excellent jumping and riding in a fairly unthreatening environment – you do need to buddy up for this as you are out of surveillance for the centre! There is also a wave spot about 3km upwind providing good starboard tack jumping and port tack backside riding. They will run trips up to the wave spot but it’s dependant on how busy Rick is at the centre. If the wave spot is a big deal for you I suggest you discuss it with them before you go. As they get established they may well expand the staff and this should make it much easier for them to take clients up there – it’s well worth going and the 10 minute trip in the back of a pick up is good fun.
There is not much to do besides windsurfing although some day trips can be organised and the snorkelling off the reef is OK although I’m told it is unimpressive compared to the real Red Sea diving areas. Night life is very relaxed, a few beers following sailing, but we were too tired for anything more anyway! A short taxi journey takes you into El Tur which is a proper Egyptian town so no clubbing, boozing or buying tourist stuff.
Summer temps can be around 40 but panic not for the constant wind off the sea and regular immersions mean that it’s actually quite comfortable – just remember the sun block, wear a hat and drink lots of water. In summer wetsuits are not required.
It’s a great spot for freeriders and freestylers. For beginners, early intermediates and dedicated wave-heads it’s got something to offer but isn’t really ideal.
You can book packages through Crusader travel or Planet Windsurf or you can arrange your own flight and book hotel, transfer and board hire/storage direct with El Tur Windsurfing. Flying to Sharm is best, Cairo is an alternative if you don’t mind 5 hours in an Egyptian Taxi!
I booked flights through http://www.redseaflights.com and flew with Astraeus who took my kit for £40 return
Mail the ever helpful Jeanette at
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with any queries. There is loads of info on the El Tur Windsurfing site.
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Rik seems to be a good instructor and will work hard at getting you where you want to be.
The hotel (there is only one) was really quiet for the second half of the week we there. Great on the water as there's nobody to get in the way but lacking in atmosphere off the water
Depends what you want and when you go