Sportif (www.sportif.travel) can help you book your travel, accommodation and gear rental.

By plane: The main airport is Mytilini, which has daily charter and scheduled flights from Athens and some European cities. Flights are between £100 and £300 depending on season. It is a two hour transfer time from the airport to Sigri (taxi, bus or rental car).

Airline from UK: British Airways
Airline from Athens: Aegean Arlines

Transfer from the airport to Sigri:

• Taxi from the airport to Sigri (one way: 100-120 €)
• Rental car: from 175 € per week (www.lesvoscar.com;www.alfarentacar.gr)
• Bus service: Leaving from Mytilini or Sigri twice a day; From Mytilini: at 11.00 am and 1.15 pm From Sigri: at 2.30 pm and 6.00 pm;

By ferry: The best connection is the ferry from Thessaloniki (Northern Greece) to Sigri (30 € per person). Also ferries from Athens (Pireaus) to Mytilini. Lavrio (South of Athens) is only 15 km away from Athens airport and it takes you 8 hours to get to Sigri.

Blue Star from Thessaloniki and Helenik Seaways from Athens. (www.ferries.gr)

Meltemi is the name of the summer wind (thermal wind) in the Aegean Sea and it always comes from north-northwest. The wind blows from May to October. Normally Force 2-3 in the morning and gets stronger during midday (about force 4-7). On some days the Meltemi can even reach up to force 8-9.

Wind Stats (force 4+): May: 60% / June 70% / July 80% / August 85% / September 70% / October 65%

Water state: Flat water in the bay, small chop further outside. On stronger days, there are waves in the channel (very close to the surf centre)

There are 5 spots within 5km:

Sigri bay: The Sigrisurf Windsurf center is situated on the north end of the bay. The wind blows side-offshore so the water is very flat in front of the centre. It’s an ideal spot for cracking gybes and flat water freestyle. There is an island called Nissiopi opposite the centre that makes the bay very safe – going downwind does not mean you are blown out to sea. There is a channel between the island and Sigrisurf that produces waves.

Faneromeni: Faneromeni beach is only 2km away from Sigri and is definitely worth the journey. It is a very long, sandy beach with a special bar that has a very personal Greek touch. The wind comes from the right and can produce waves up to 1.5m.

Limena 1 and 2: Limena beaches are in the south of Sigri. Both beaches consist of very nice sandy bays with shallow water and side-on wind. The water is very flat near the beach but further outside it is choppy. Both beaches are well known for their very consistent wind.

Andromaki: An onshore beach break with the wind from the right. Waves get up to 2.5m. It is a beautiful, sandy bay with a fantastic view.

www.sigrisurf.com
info@sigrisurf.com

The SigriSurf Windsurf Centre has all the latest equipment from RRD and Simmer Sails as well as mountain bikes and SUP Boards. There are also sun-loungers and a nice bar where you can get a drink

Hotel Orama

Small hotel that give a very personal service. It serves a great breakfast and has a big outdoor pool. It is only 800m from the water’s edge.
Contact: oramahotelsigri@yahoo.gr

Villas Anastasia

Very close to the water (only 20 metres). Only a stone’s throw away from the SigriSurf Centre. Plenty of space for the whole family. It’s perfect for people who want to cook themselves or who want to be very close to the centre.
Contact: info@villa-anastasia.de

Sigrion Villas

Idea for families. 2 floor apartments with plenty of space and a great outdoor pool. Only 700m from the water’s edge.
Contact: sigri4rent@yahoo.gr

Aeolis Maisonettes

Ideal for families. 2 floor apartments with a separate bedroom. There is a balcony with a sea-view and it’s 600m from the beach.

Evangelia Apartments

Evangelia offers you either studios or apartments. Perfect for 2-4 people sharing and 800-900m from the beach.
Contact: sigri4rent@yahoo.gr

Although Sigri is quite small there are seven restaurants in the centre. “Remezo” is definitely worth the visit but also the restaurant at the harbour is a great choice for those in the know. Both restaurants have a picturesque view and serve delicious fresh seafood like lobster, fish or calamari. The rest of the village is well known for its delicious sea-food.

There are two small supermarkets where you can stock up on Greek delicacies like cheese, olive oil or local olives. Sigri also has a bakery that offers cheap, tasty bread. There is also the Sigri vegetable van which brings fresh fruit and vegetables to the village every day.

For those on a budget, we would recommend eating local fresh fish and buying and cooking your own food from the supermarket.

There are three bars in Sigri, one of the best is the Sunset bar where you can party away until sunrise. If you want more than that, you can go and party in Eressos – 20 minutes away from Sigri by bus or car.

It’s worth going to check out the Petrified Forest, Petra, the harbour of Mytilini or the picturesque Molivos with its markets, antique souvenir shops and Greek taverns.

Sigri offer some great mountain biking. You can hire bikes at the Sigrisurf Centre. If you are renting your gear there, you are also free to use the SUP boards – perfect for exploring the coastline.

There are some fantastic beaches in Sigri, so it is an ideal place just to hang out and sunbathe!

Local Events

This (2011) season Sigrisurf are running:

• Tricktionary Camp with Michael Rossmeier (author of Tricktionary)
• Go Fast Camp with Marcel Simon in June
• Freestyle Camp with Andraz Zan (PWA freestyler)

Greece as it was in the 60s. Traditional lifestyle; flat water and waves; four spots in 5km and beautiful, clean, empty beaches!

Name: Bastian Fischer
Local beach: Achensee
How many years sailing: 10 years
Last windsurf move you cracked: Spock
What you’re working on now: Back Loop

Fly

Monarch Airways go to Rhodes and charge £60 per windsurfer. www.flymonarch.com Tel. 0870 458 2861

Ferry

Don’t be daft!

PACKAGE DEALS

The Boardseeker Team travelled with Sportif who send over 300 clients a year to Prasonisi. We were very impressed with their service. Contact them on 01273 844919. Email info@sportif.travel

Prices start from £429 staying at Lighthouse I, half board including flight and transfer and using the Pro Center Christof Kirschner.

Staying at the Oasis hotel and using the Fanatic Centre costs from £439.

It’s the NW “Meltemi” trade wind that blows across the whole Med in the summer. Hot weather in mainland Europe creates a very dry and very stable high pressure which funnels this NW wind through the Greek Islands. Due to local topography, the wind funnels through the island opposite Prasonisi and the large hill behind it therefore Prasonisi will usually have a force stronger than elsewhere on the island. The windsurfing season is May to mid October with the strongest winds in July/August.

Don’t bother going in the winter as the Meltemi wind shuts down and it gets pretty cold.

Typical daily wind: June and Sept: 6m in the morning, 5m in the afternoon, July and Aug: 5m in the morning, 4m and less in the afternoon.

You do get the odd windless day but even then you will get going on a 6.5m/freeride board by the afternoon.

The wind can vary in strength from day to day but will pick up as the day progresses. Regular sail changes aren’t a problem if you’re hiring as they are already rigged for you!

There are two beaches:

Cross off side: flat as a pancake on the inside with a very slight chop on the outside when it’s 5m or less weather, sandy bottom

Any hazards?: Other windsurfers. It’s quite a big bay and a long beach but we all like to sail at full speed into one area to show off are latest trick 6 ft from the shore line. Do watch out for full power, Polish windsurfers sailing on slalom kit with total disregard for other waterusers.

Suitability/levels: perfect for every level from beginner to freestyle master to slalom guru.

Onshore side: Onshore to cross onshore with rolling swell outside the breaking waves. Average size of waves is waist to head high. The onshore conditions require more work to get big air but it is a great training ground for onshore wave riding & a real change from the super flat waters on the other side of the peninsula.

Any hazards?: The waves break onto a sand bar and can be quite steep and punchy on a windy day so be careful of kit and body breakage. If you’re really unlucky you will step on a sand eel whilst walking your kit over the shallow channel between the two beaches. This can hurt like hell and ruin your day’s sailing.

Kitesurfers tend to favour this side and it can get quite hectic. 

Suitability/levels: need to be fairly confident in waves if its head high, good practice for sailing in chop, waterstart essential.

For more information on local weather, please visit the Prasonisi Pro Centre website

We went through Pro Centre Christof Kirschner. This is one of three centres and is the most established. The other two cater mainly for Polish sailors but if you’re a Fanatic fan then it is worth going through the Fanatic Centre and it is slightly cheaper Speak to Sportif Tel. 01273 844919      .

Kit hire

The Pro Centre stocks JP boards (full range) and Neilpryde sails (3.3m to 7.9m Cores, Zones, Search, Jets and Sabers).

You can hire kit from 1 hour to two, three weeks etc. They are really flexible.

You choose a board and that becomes yours for the hire period BUT you can change it or try other boards if they are available. You help yourself to whatever sails you require from the rig pool. No one was short of a sail when we we’re there.

One week hire of standard kit (F2/Neilpryde): 175 euros + 25 euros optional but well recommended insurance

One week hire of upgrade kit (JP boards, F2 Maui Projects, Neilpryde sails): 214 euros + 35 euros optional insurance

Kit hire is part of the Sportif package.

Instruction

5 hrs Beginner instruction including kit: 88 euros (10hrs : 150 euros) with 5 people max in group

5hrs Intermediate inst (no kit): 75 euros (10hrs : 135 euros) with 3 people max in group

Private hour instruction for any level, no kit: 35 euros per hour.

Jem Hall is a regular at Rhodes running Clinics for Intermediate & Advanced sailors. For more info click on his name or phone Sportif: +44 (0)1273 844919

All of the above includes video feedback and can be paid for at the centre by cash or credit card.

Rescue cover is provided (boat moored just off shore and watch tower manned all day).

Bringing your own kit

The centre has an area for private equipment and the staff are more than happy to help you rig it, tune it and fix it! We got a small dent in one of our wave boards fixed for free!!

In fact the staff are a nice, helpful bunch who all speak English but hail from Czech, Slovenia and Germany.

Email office-1@prasonisi.com

Camping in the specified areas is FREE and there are several outdoor showers and toilets. In mid summer, the place is full of camper vans who didn’t think the ferry was such a daft idea.

However, most windsurfers go on package deals and stay at ONE of the following hotels.

Lighthouse I:

Twin rooms with verandas, fridge, fans, en suites AND half board.

Lighthouse II:

These are studios sleeping up to 4 per room with kitchenette and air conditioning.

You can have breakfast for 6 euros and the set dinner for 14 euros.

Oasis:

Twin rooms, en suite, fridge, air conditioning and half board.

Check out www.oasis-windsurfinghotel.com

Prasonisi comprises of two restaurants and two not very well stocked supermarkets. The nearest town is 40 mins away so you’re stuck with what you can get in Prasonisi.

If you like feta cheese, smoked meats and dodgy flavoured croissants you’ll be fine!

Best bet is to eat in one of the two hotel restaurants. If you’re on half board you get two choices every night, for example, Greek salad, meatballs, chicken and rice, spag bog. You can also pay extra to have anything off their extensive menus. The fish is excellent. Breakfast is typically European with cheese, meats and hard boiled eggs. Again, if you’re missing the traditional English breakfast, it can be cooked to order.

Beware that credit cards are not accepted in the restaurants so take plenty of cash.

The tap water is very salty and totally undrinkable. Bottled water costs 1.20 euro.

Make your own entertainment & enjoy some drinks in the hotel bars. The locals are very friendly even if they do have a habit of playing awful Greek pop tunes! There is a varied international windsurfing community as well so you can swap gybing stories with Hans from Munich.

If you want a change of scene, head to Lindos (a 40 mins drive away costing 40-50 euro one way for a 4 person taxi). Lindos is a traditional Greek fishing town not yet ruined by the tourist trade. Fantastic food on open, roof top restaurants followed by some dancing in one of the Euro bars makes for a pleasant evening.

Large beer: 2.50 euro

Home to Sky TV’s Greece Uncovered, Faliriki is over an hour away. If you’re into drinking 24/7, flashing your naughty bits and degrading your fellow countrymen, then it could be worth the trip!

Here lies the small problem with Prasonisi, there is not a lot else to do other than windsurf. The Pro Center will organise car or motorbike hire so you can explore the Island of Rhodes. Other than that it’s volleyball or sunbathing.

It blew every day over clear, flat water and we all learnt loads. The Sportif package is hassle free and good value for money and we can’t speak highly enough about the Pro Centre. Yes, you can go it alone but we recommend using the centre to at least pick you up and store your kit. Very chilled place, maybe too chilled for some and boring for non windsurfers.

www.prasonisi.com: Check it out for wind stats and nice pictures of the beach.

Name: Louise Emery & Adrian Jones from the Boardseeker Team
Local beach in UK: West Shore, Llandudno & Troon
How many years sailing: 6 yrs (Louise) 18 yrs (Adrian)
Last windsurf move you cracked: 360 in the straps (Louise) Spock 540 (Adrian)
What you’re working on now: vulcans (Louise) grubbies (Adrian)

The island’s major advantage can also be thought of as a disadvantage. The lack of major airport means there are no direct flights from the UK (or anywhere!). This appears to ward off most English tourists and as a result the island is considerably less ‘touristy’ than some of the other Greek islands, with the predominate nationality being Swedish or Norwegian. The disadvantage however, is that it involves a ferry to get to.

The most obvious route is to fly to Athens then get on a ferry to Naxos. Athens is a well served European airport and flights can be found from the UK for £30-£60. Mykonos and Santorini are nearby islands which also have direct UK flights and are well served by the ferries. Flights to these islands are generally more expensive (£100-£200 plus) but will dramatically reduce the journey time.

• Easyjet
• FirstChoice
• FlyThomascook
• Thomsonfly
• Monarch
• British Airways (if you don’t take kit)
• SkyScanner is one the best ways to find the cheapest deal however, it can miss out some of the airlines. Taking kit on these airlines is relatively easy and usually costs £35 for a ‘windsurfer’. As usual, when travelling with kit try keep bags under 30 kg, arrive early and bring a copy of your receipt to prove you paid for your ‘windsurfer’.

Transfer

Once you land in Athens there are two options to get to the port (Piraeus), an express bus X96 leaves every 20 minutes during the day and every 40 minutes at night from the airport’s arrivals level (between doors 4 and 5) to Karaiskaki Square in Piraeus, right outside the ferry harbour (Gate E7). The trip takes about 1.5 hour and costs €3.20. While it is possible to take kit on the bus it is generally better to assume you won’t be allowed – especially in peak months. A good trick can be to move the kit on the bus while the driver is having a fag then buy two tickets, one for you and one for your kit.

The other option is a taxi. If booked early this should not cost you more than €50. If you are alone then it can be a good idea to ask any other tourists around you to join and lower the cost.

The transfer to the ports of other islands is much quicker than Athens (e.g. Mykonos 10mins) and the best way is by taxi.

It is also possible to get a small plane from Athens airport to Naxos through HYPERLINK “http://www.olympicairlines.com/” Olympic Airways. This is €75 and has to be booked months in advance. No kit allowed.

Ferry

The fast ferry from Piraeus to Naxos costs €50 and takes 3.5 hours. If you are only going for one week then this is the option for you.

The slow ferry costs €32 for an economy seat and €36 for an ‘air type’ seat. In peak season it is definitely worth going for the ‘air type’ seat as economy can potentially involve spending the entire 7 hour journey sat outdoors in the chain smoking zone on a plastic chair with the engine exhaust blowing in your face. Also depending on which ferry you use the journey can sometimes take up to 10 hours so check the times first!

It is possible to take a ferry from a closer port than Piraeus known as Rafina, this is only 15 mins away by bus or taxi. The ferries go less often from Rafina and there is no fast ferry. One disadvantage is that the ferry is tiny with no space for kit – as one of my friends found out when they were forced to strap his kit to the side of the funnel!

There is usually no problem with taking kit on the ferry. A good tip is to board the ferry just before it leaves at the same time as the crowds of people so they are in a rush and have no time to approach you.

There are two major ferry companies, it is vital to book at least a week or more in advance during July/August as they get very full.

• Blue Star Ferries
• Hellenic Seaways

Transfer from Port to Hotel

Transfer to your hotels can be arranged either through the hotel directly or through the rental centre. If you are camping or cowboying it then a taxi should cost no more than €7. If you don’t have kit then it’s a 20 minute walk to the windsurf beach from the port but this is definitely not possible with kit.

Summary

There is a huge range of ways to get to Naxos so you will have to find the one which suits you. The trip can easily be combined with spending a couple of days on a different island. There are also regular ferries from Rhodes so one option is to do a week in Prasonisi then a week in Naxos. It’s only worth the trouble of taking your own kit if you are staying for longer than a week.

Package Deals

Complete holiday packages can be arranged through the two local centres Flisvos or Naxos Surf Club.

Naxos is served by the meltemi wind which blows all summer from May to September. The wind occurs when high pressure forms over the Balkans and low pressure forms over Turkey. If the system is working then the wind will always come from the north, often with a bit of west or east in it which makes a big difference to the conditions. We stayed in Naxos for 3 months over the summer. Not surprisingly, due to the Meltemi, we found that the wind mimicked the wind in the rest of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea.

Instead of quoting wind stats which in most cases can be extremely dubious, we have made a simple guide:

If you are staying for only 1-2 weeks then go in July or August. The wind is very consistent during this period with most days reaching a solid force 5. In August the wind blew force 6-7 over 90% of the time.

If you are planning to stay longer, then June and September can still be good. As with most places in Greece, however, the wind is less consistent during these months.

Unlike places such as Vassiliki, there is no regular daily wind pattern. For some weeks it was stronger in the evenings and others in the morning, whilst sometimes it would blow all day. So when it’s windy, go windsurfing!

Laguna

Best wind direction: NE, N, NW
Worst wind direction: S
Tide: None
What’s on the bottom?: Sand, some rocks, seaweed.
Any hazards: Stingy seaweed.
Other water users: NONE, No kites are allowed due to the airport and powerlines being so close. No swimmers, no boats and never that many windsurfers.
Suitability/levels: All. Very good for children as the wind is onshore and water is very shallow in front of the centre at the north of the lagoon.
Wipe-out factor: Very low. There is rescue cover but only ever used for the waves. The stingy seaweed is the main danger and only occurs at the south end of the lagoon. The sting is not bad and easily treated with ammonia.

Outside the reef

Best wind direction: N, NW
Worst wind direction: S
Tide: None
What’s on the bottom?: Very deep outside the reef. The reef itself is full of sea urchins and sharp shallow rocks.
Any hazards: Getting washed over the reef. Either from the waves pushing you on to it, or the wind dying.
Other water users: None, again no kites allowed.
Suitability/levels: Advanced, confident waterstarting.
Wipe-out factor: Medium to low. Although there are hazards, they are easily avoided if you are careful.

St George’s

Best wind direction: Very strong N, NW, NE
Worst wind direction: Anything else.
Tide: None.
What’s on the bottom?: Mostly sand but there is the odd shallow carpet like covered reef.
Any hazards: The waves can be quite powerful especially over the reefs. The wind is very gusty up the top of the beach but this is where the best waves are.
Other water users: Some swimmers, again no kites allowed!!
Suitability/levels: Advanced, confident waterstarting.
Wipe-out factor: Medium to high, it can be tempting to ride the waves all the way in but this is generally not a good idea.

Secret Spot – aka Shaka Bay

Best wind direction: N
Worst wind direction: S
Tide: None
What’s on the bottom?: All sand.
Any hazards: None.
Other water users: None.
Suitability/levels: Medium – you need to be able to turn around quickly!
Wipe-out factor: Very low.

Naxos is primarily a flat water spot. It consists of a large shallow lagoon surrounded by a reef. Whilst it is always ‘flat’ in the lagoon, it is only on the edges that it becomes a true freestyle/freeride paradise. Because the lagoon is no more than chest deep throughout, it is perfect for beginners and intermediates (advanced sailors might even forget how to waterstart!).

However, Naxos has potential for waves. Outside the reef there is always a rolling swell if the wind is blowing. In high winds, and the right direction (NW) these can reach mast high and are great for jumping. There is also a wave beach (St George’s) up from the lagoon which features a number of soft reefs that allow for some surprisingly good wave sailing! While the potential for getting waves is one of Naxos’s many advantages, we would not recommend anyone staying for less than the two weeks should expect to get some.

Access to the waves from the lagoon is through a narrow ‘gateway’ in the reef which is marked by a red flag.

Depending on what kind of windsurfer you are a shorty can be a good idea. Naxos is slightly colder than some of the other Greek islands especially when the wind is strong. Both centres rent wetsuits so it’s not the end of the world if you forget to take one. A rash vest is recommended for anyone doing freestyle in the shallow section of the laguna to avoid being stung by the mysterious seaweed.

There are two centres near Naxos town. The largest one is Flisvos, which has two stations: one on the laguna and the other on St George’s beach. The alternative is Naxos Surf Club which is located on the laguna closer to the flat water zone.

Flisvos

Kit: RRD & NeilPryde
Rental Price: €210 for a week’s rental plus €30 for insurance.
Storage Price: €45 for 1 week.
Advantages: Perfect shallow beginner area right in front of the centre, wide range of kit and showers and more family orientated.
Disadvantages: Sometimes very busy so the ideal sail size isn’t always available, takes longer to sail to the flat water zone.
Website: www.flisvos-sportclub.com

Naxos Surf Club

Kit: JP & North
Rental Price: Standard €195 for a week’s rental, World Cup €215, plus €30 for insurance.
Storage Price: €45 for 1 week.
Advantages: Nicer chill out zone, better quality kit, closer to flat water, sails get personally trimmed for you.
Disadvantages: Far away from town, insurance doesn’t cover damage from freestyle – which is pretty outrageous!! They can be anal about kit.
Website: www.naxos-surf.com

There are loads of hotels and studios to choose from in Naxos, the ones below are close to the windsurf beach.

Fikas Hotel

Website: www.fikas-hotel-naxos.gr

Lovely hotel situated 5 minutes walk from the beach and the discount supermarket, 15 mins to walk into town. Guests can also enjoy the swimming pool with sun-beds and umbrellas. There is a breakfast lounge, snack bar, television room, private parking, room service and daily cleaning. Room service is also available.

Prices in euros:

Naxos Beach 1

Website: www.naxosbeach1.com

This hotel is exclusively for Flisvos Sports Club guests. The hotel offers comfortable and tastefully furnished rooms with air condition and private balcony or terrace. Each room is equipped with telephone, safe, satellite television, mosquito net and refrigerator.

Prices in euros:

Flisvos Studios

This is more suited to people staying longer than a couple of weeks in Naxos. They are 5 minutes from the windsurf beach/supermarket and not far from town. The studios are simple with 2 beds, a kitchen and a small bathroom. Pre-booking is difficult as they are run by a friendly local who can always be found practicing his light wind freestyle at the Flisvos Watersports. Ask for Mijales at the Flisvos beach cafe.

Price: €300-€400 per month. Prices are at his discretion, so be nice to him!

Camping

Free camping is illegal in Naxos and although you will see many trailers and vans parked on the Laguna beach, these cannot stay the night. However, there are a few commercial camping sites.

Naxos Camping

Website: www.naxos-camping.gr

Located close to Naxos Surf Club. It has a swimming pool/chill out area and apparently is where the spirit of summer lives! It offers free transfer from the port which is a big plus as well as numerous facilities listed on the website.

Prices:

• Low season (June): €7 and the tent is free
• High season (July &August): €9 if you have a tent. €2 extra to rent one.

The owner told us that electricity is free…woohoo!

Naxos is renowned for its cuisine. The town is full of local restaurants serving delicious Greek specialities. There are also a number of pizzerias as well as Mexican and Thai. Anyone who has been to Greece before will know that the cheapest thing on the menu is always Gyros, normally €2.

The best advice we can give you is to wander around and get lost in the beautiful old town and stumble upon a random picturesque restaurant.

Beach Cafe

Website: www.flisvos-sportclub.com

This is part of the Flisvos empire and is an ideal place for a post windsurf beer with the sunset. They serve very good food all day with popular themed buffets in the evening including a surfer chill out night.
Average meal: €5-€15

Scirocco

Very popular restaurant in the main square. The staff are extremely friendly and prices are reasonable.
Average meal: €8 – €15

Suzanna’s

Extremely popular Pizzeria. Well known for its delicious Italian Pizza and a good option if you are getting bored of Greek Salad and Tzatziki. It can get very busy so you might have to pre-book.
Pizza: €8

Roof Garden

A cheap place right in the centre of town which serves good food. As the name suggests it has a roof garden. Good for a quick Gyros in town before a night out.

The Waffle House

Best place for desert or late night/afternoon snacks in town. It is very hard to resist their tempting ice creams and delicious waffles! Still quite overpriced…

Eating in

If you are keen for a quiet night in there are many minimarkets/ supermarkets close to town. Since it is an island, food prices can be quite high, especially in the minimarkets. The cheapest and biggest supermarket is Koutalieris which is where most locals go. It can be found on the main road behind the Flisvos Beach Cafe.
Price: 1kg Tzatziki for €3.15 and 1kg Olives €2.55!!!

There is lots of nightlife in Naxos but as on most Greek islands it doesn’t start before midnight and goes on till dawn! A standard night could involve starting off at On The Rocks or Jam Bar followed by Escobar, Prime and Soul2Soul. These can all suit a range of different music tastes.

Drinking in bars is expensive, usually €7 for a beer and €5-€8 for a cocktail. Although beware that these are much stronger than in the UK.

The gipsy way of drinking is either at home with beers (€0.7) or wine (€3) from the supermarket, or on the port with slightly more expensive drinks from one of the minimarkets. Although watch out as some individuals have been known to be kicked out of the clubs for not buying drinks!

It is usually very safe at night but as with anywhere keep your wits about you and try not to go home alone/empty handed.

One of the best features of Naxos is that there is loads to do for the non-windsurfer. Apart from having a beautiful town to explore the other activities for low wind days are:

• Mountain biking – rental from Flisvos
• Catamaran trips to Paros – from Flisvos
• Horse Riding – very popular for some reason you will often see them wading in the laguna
• Diving/snorkelling
• Cliff jumping – There are great cliffs to the south on a beach called Pirgaki
• Wakeboarding – from Flisvos watersports
• Quad bike/buggy or scooter – the town is full of rental places

The range of activities and the easy learning environment make Naxos an ideal destination to take non windsurfing partners or a family. The downside for short breaks is that there are no direct flights and the wind is only fully consistent in July/August.

Name: Al Bentley
Local beach: Hayling Island
How many years sailing: 4 years
Last windsurf move you cracked: Shaka
What you’re working on now: Burner
Competition results: 2nd SWA Wave series 2009
Sponsors: Boardwise, Severne, Boohai

Name: Maeli Cherel
Local beach: Hayling Island
How many years sailing: 8 years
Last windsurf move you cracked: Spock
What you’re working on now: Grubby
Competition results: 1st SWA Women’s Freestyle/Wave 2009