Baby Bay, Dahab

DAHAB, RED SEA from £499 (SAVE £200)

4* Hilton hotel plus discounted board hire in November & December.

SAFAGA, RED SEA from £459 ALL INCLUSIVE

3* Hotel with Windsurf, kitesurf & dive centres on site. Good for all levels. Dep 7 Dec 12

SAFAGA, RED SEA from £585pp 5* HOTEL ALL INCLUSIVE

5* Luxury hotel 1 week ALL INCLUSIVE. Deps 25 Jan 2013

MARSA ALAM, RED SEA from £749pp (SAVE £50)  LAST MINUTE

3* Shams Alam 7 nights Half Board, All Inclusive Upgrade £69pp/week. Deps 31 Oct 2012
SOMA BAY, RED SEA from £549pp 5* LUXURY HOTEL IN DEC

Top quality 4* & 5* Luxury hotels for all the family. Dep 07 Dec 2012

BOARD HIRE SPECIAL OFFER – in November in Dahab and December – Dahab, Marsa Alam & Safaga.
1 week Board Hire NOW £167  - 4 out of 7 days NOW £120

INSTRUCTION SPECIAL OFFERS:
Beginners/ Intermediate Course 4 hrs £80, 6 hrs £115, 10 hrs £160 including equipment
Advance instruction / Coaching from £80 for 2 hours (excluding kit).

Safaga

All holidays are fully ATOL covered by Sportif. Don’t forget to check the new ATOL certificates, now issued when booking, to be sure all elements of your holiday are financially secure.

Call 01273 844919 to book or email info@sportif.travel  www.sportif.travel

When fellow windsurfers get together and discuss going on a windsurfing holiday, a few locations generally seem to surface again and again.  Egypt, Tarifa and the Canaries are firm favourites, whilst occasionally someone might throw in somewhere exotic like the Caribbean just to make everyone start dreaming and saving.

There's great blasting locations all over the UK!

The point is though that rarely do you hear people talking half as dreamily about taking a windsurfing holiday in the UK. This is despite the fact that in the summer, and particularly the early autumn, the UK is capable of dishing up some spectacular windsurfing venues and, if you time it right, spectacular conditions. If you’re really lucky, you might even get some glorious weather.

This can often get overlooked, but given the tough times in which we live, perhaps it’s time for us to stop dreaming of far flung shores and knuckle down to the more rustic pleasures of a windsurfing holiday on your doorstep. The word ‘Staycation’ can apply to Windsurfers, too.

Advantages

To be fair, there are a number of fairly significant advantages to a windsurfing holiday in the UK even if you look beyond damage limitation to your wallet.

There is a lot of brilliant waves across the country too.

First up, let’s not forget that the UK has the most extensive selection of RYA training centres in the world, so you’re spoilt for choice in that department, and that means good facilities and excellent training programmes if you’re looking to progress. In addition to this, if you have a family to bring along then they can also benefit from RYA instruction leaving you free to get on with the important matter of windsurfing guilt free.

There is also that all important element of flexibility that a holiday in the UK can provide you with.  Plan to head abroad and once you’ve booked your tickets, the whole trip is set in stone, leaving you to sweat it out on Windguru and the like to find out whether there will be any wind on your trip. With any luck, if you’re planning a UK based trip, there is a bit more freedom to reschedule or change the venue if the breeze is looking awful.

Beyond that, a trip to a UK windsurfing location can often uncover a hidden gem and the beauty is that many of the UK’s most spectacular surfing venues are, well, spectacular. Areas such as Tiree, Isle of Wight and the north coasts of Cornwall and Wales are all known as top class windsurf spots with RYA Training Centres nearby, yet they’re also known as top class holiday destinations in their own right, so even if the wind falls light, it’s not as if there won’t be plenty of other attractions around to keep you entertained.

Get the rest of the family into windsurfing on your staycation too!

The next question is where to stay?

There is a shortlist of suggested destinations below but there are hundreds more to choose from. Whether you fancy roughing it really is your shout and depends on your budget and hardiness. There are plenty of us out there who are pretty content to simply sleep in a van or tent and dedicate ourselves to hard-core windsurfing. This is certainly hugely economical, but perhaps a little too rugged for the tastes of some (or possibly their partners?)

A sound alternative is the good old B&B, but a third hugely tempting option is to go for an RYA training centre, which has accommodation, attached. Tiree and Derwent Water (listed below) are two such training centres. This has the added advantage of meaning that they’ll be geared up to deal with windsurfers and won’t mind you bringing your stinking wetsuit into the shower!

Food for thought

Dear old blighty is often overlooked when it comes to planning a holiday, but anyone who has witnessed the majesty of Tiree or Corverack Bay with the magnificent rugged Cornish coast in the background will attest that when it comes to a windsurfing holiday, the UK still has a lot to offer.

So here is just a small sample of where you could go:

South West: Coverack, Cornwall

Coverack Windsurfing Centre is RYA recognised and provides training for all levels of windsurfing. Call 01326 280939.

South: Poole Harbour, Lepe beach in the Solent, Hayling beach, Hayling Island, the whole of the Isle of Wight, Portland Harbour, home of the Olympics and Weymouth Speed Week.

Central: Rutland Water

Rutland Watersports provide a range of kit and training. Call 01780 460154.

Wales; Plas Menai, Welsh National Watersports Centre. Call 01248 670964. Rhosneigr Bay, the Gower peninsular, Pwllheli and the Llyn peninsula

North West: Derwent Water Marina

Derwent Water Marina offers training, kit and also accommodation in the heart of the Lake District. See if you can master those wind shifts! Call: 01768 772912.

Scotland: Tiree

Wild Diamond Watersports provide training and camping facilities. Call: 01879 220399.

To find your nearest RYA Training Centre and more information about RYA training courses visit www.rya.org.uk

Sportif are offering £50 OFF per person (£25 off land only deals) for all clinic places for Marsa Alam, Margarita, Moulay & Alacati in 2013 if booked before 30 September 2013.

Jem Hall in Marsa Alam

JEM HALL CLINICS

Marsa Alam, Red Sea 13-20 & 20-27 March 2013
Ultimate Spring tune up PERFORMANCE BOOST

£50 OFF PP (£25 OFF LAND ONLY) if booked by 30 Sept 12
Move on up in water starts, gybes, tacks, freestyle and jumps according to your ability level of the clinic. Enhance your early planing and get blasting at full speed.
view now »

Simon Bornhoft

SIMON BORNHOFT CLINICS

Marsa Alam, Red Sea -  Feb, Mar, Apr & Sept 2013

EARLY/ADVANCED INTERMEDIATES – ADVANCED.
£50 OFF PP (£25 OFF LAND ONLY) if booked by 30 Sept 12
Join Simon Bornhoft in this superb, flat, shallow water that is accompanied with extremely reliable wind. It’s the perfect place for early to advance intermediates and higher level sailors wanting a training ground to advance their level. Choice of dates and Family Easter week.
view now »

El Yaque

Margarita, Caribbean 03 Jan – 14 Feb 2013
£50 OFF PP (£25 OFF LAND ONLY) if booked by 30 Sept 12
Intermediates – Advanced level windsurfers.
Simon Bornhoft’s 2 week clinic to El Yaque on the beautiful Caribbean island of Margarita for uncrowded February sailing.
view now »

Moulay wave action

Moulay, Morocco 02-09 May 2013

INTERMEDIATE – ADVANCED FREEWAVE COURSE  £50 OFF PP (£25 OFF LAND ONLY) if booked by 30 Sept 12
Simon Bornhoft’s returning to Moulay in 2013. It’s a real adventure and awesome conditions for dedicated windsurfers. In May the prevailing conditions are ideal for enjoying some great wave sailing. If you want to learn how to jump, ride waves or crack that loop, this course is designed for you!
view now »

Alacati with Simon Bornhoft

Alacati, Turkey 08-15 June and 15-22 June 2013

IMPROVERS – INTERMEDIATES COURSE
£50 OFF PP (£25 OFF LAND ONLY) if booked by 30 Sept 12
Easy, safe, shallow flat water, freeride paradise for improvers and intermediates. Wonderful apres windsurfing meals and atmosphere.
view now »

Call 01273 844919 or email info@sportif.travel for more details or to book your place.

Check out pieces from Jem Hall and Simon Bornhoft in our technique section here. 

Also as a nice pre-Christmas present the “1st Steps to Straps” Camp, taking place between December 4th and 9th 2012 at the Caribbean Island of Tobago, comes just right on time. Also here we still got some more places available.

Find our more about the Fanatic Pro Camps with Yoli and Tom de Brendt here.

Fanatic Pro Camps

TOM BRENDT – Tom Brendt has been successfully running camps around the world for years now, and is not only a top level sailor and talented photographer, but also the trainer of Fanatic Pro Riders including 4 times World Champ Freestyler Gollito Estredo and Ladies Champ Freestyler Yoli De Brendt!

YOLI DE BRENDT – Born in Venezuela, Yoli is full of energy, talent and fun. Yoli will be able to share all the little tips and tricks that any girl should know to improve on the water adapting to each student’s level, strengths, rhythm and dreams. Girls rule!! You can read more about Tom & Yoli on the Fanatic website.

Messing around on the beach

I would recommend a season to anyone who asked me. No question about it. I loved both the seasons I did.

Because of a certain video people look on the “Gap Year” as something very posh, so I will refer to mine as a year out! There is something somewhat frustrating about the stereotype cast by the phrase gap year, but the gap year doesn’t have to be the stereotypical year between school and university, including a trip to Thailand and Machu Pichu.

I spent seven glorious months of my time between school and university working in Greece as a dinghy sailing instructor (bear with me) for a fairly well known sailing holiday provider.  This was split into two seasons in 2008 and 09. I expected that most of my colleagues on the seasons would be the same age and in a fairly similar boat (if you will excuse the pun). In reality there were a lot of people who weren’t in the educational no-mans land that I was.

Sailing and windsurfing after work

From Brooksey taking some well-earned time out from his stressful day job as a head chef, to Pippa and Louise at the beginning of their gap life, there was a big mix of people.

I think the point is that seasons are not just for those fresh out of school. It is however a good space filler in your life. If you have a summer between jobs, or are stuck for something to do for a few months then a season is great fun and you can go back to doing them at almost any time.

Why do a season? Well, certainly not to earn money. The lifestyle involved and the meager wage that most season staff are paid adds up to virtually nothing.

So, what then? Well I just mentioned part of it; the lifestyle! Working in the sunshine, sailing and windsurfing in just boardies. Getting paid (sort of paid) to do something you enjoy.  Yes there are downsides, like roasting in a safety boat or rigging and de-rigging kit, but there are downsides to every job, and the people you do it with can make it fun to do.

That’s another thing. You are living and working with likeminded enthusiastic sporting people. They love sailing or windsurfing just as much as you. The thought of an after work session with your mates is what gets you through the long days (and if there was no wind then the thought of a few beers in the town!).

Then you learn a lot. I left school a very socially awkward and innocent boy who was OK at sailing, and finished my seasons not so innocent and having learned to windsurf fairly well.

Duncan after a week of learning to windsurf

You are very likely to work with people who are better than you at something whether it be tying knots or light wind freestyle, and so you can always learn.

And two weeks later

Then the impact teaching has on your own windsurfing. You quickly learn the main pitfalls of technique and it makes you examine your own technique. As a consequence you are bound to improve. Also, constantly getting time on the water, finding ways to amuse yourself while your pupils are up hauling or righting a capsized boat means you try stuff you might not otherwise (floating heli tacks anyone?).

Many of my friends are currently on a season, in fact some of the SWA greats like Beaker (director) and Will Jones (president) have had their season fix this year at their favorite centres. Many make it their life, Taffy on the back of his experiences on seasons has decided to make his way through the watersports coaching world as a career. It is possible.

The point I am trying to make is that seasons have a lot to offer anyone. More than I could ever possibly think of, let alone write here. Whether it be a sabbatical break from the 9-5 drudgery, or a start in the working world. If you find yourself with a few months to kill, look into it, you won’t be disappointed.

Follow the SWA and all their shenanigans, including previous columns on Boards here, and on their website - http://www.studentwindsurfing.co.uk/

Dates  30 Aug – 6 Sept 2012, 13-20 June 2013 & 12-26 September 2013

NEW Sportif  Multi Activity Weeks

Sportif Samos

Sportif have put together new multi activity and windsurf coaching weeks to the wonderful Greek Island of Samos in the North Aegean. These fun and sociable weeks include windsurf coaching, mountain biking  and a host of activities led by successful British Coach Rob Horne.

Rob has enjoyed a reputation built up over many years in Dahab as a highly effective windsurfing coach. Based in Samos from June to October, he successfully teaches windsurfing to all levels from teenagers and beginners first starting out to expert level slalom and freestyle technique  including looping. With the variety of conditions and top quality Fanatic and North equipment available from the first class windsurf and bike centre you can be sure to improve and have fun  at the same time.

Sportif Samos

Samos offers a great all round holiday destination from May to October. Not overly developed, this pretty fishing village is big enough to offer a choice of bars and restaurants but without the  mass market tourist hotel chains. The surrounding mountains are untypically covered in green, pine  forests with hideaway villages where you will receive a friendly welcome. Local hiking and biking trails allow you to discover the many picturesque coves and beaches with crystal clear water and traditional tavernas.

SPORTIF MULTI ACTIVITY WEEKS – ‘Thrill & Chill’ in SAMOS, GREEK ISLANDS

30 August 2011 – ‘Impove Your Style’
This week is ideal for intermediates + wishing to get comfortably into the harness and planing in  footstraps. With 3 hours coaching a day, there’s still time to enjoy other activities, explore the island or just chill out on one of the many beaches. Group activities include mountain biking, beach BBQ, island jeep safari and mountain feast including wine. All escorted by Rob Horne and includes the following:

Sportif Samos

SAMOS – Inclusive Coaching weeks with Rob Horne £995 per person

• INCLUDING flights from Gatwick (Manchester available at supplement)
• 7 nights Hotel Tsamadou standard twin BB
• 6 days windsurf coaching (3 hours per day) with Rob Horne
• 1 week Fanatic windsurf board hire
• A delicious home-cooked mountain feast with wine  (one evening)
• Two bike rides over the course of the event to take in the stunning scenery
• A jeep safari to explore the rugged mountainous terrain of Samos
• A BBQ at centre on the beach to enjoy the sunset over the peaks
• Return airport transfers

Single room supplement from £59 per week.

Dates:

30 August 2012: – Improve your Style

Minimum level – Intermediate + , able to sail upwind.
Course content to include:  improve sailing with the harness, move  to foot-straps/improve foot-straps, fast tacks, up-wind sailing, introduction to gybing.

Sportif Samos

13-20 June 2013 – Improve your Style
Minimum level – Intermediate + , able to sail upwind.
Course content to include:  improve sailing with the harness, move  to foot-straps/improve foot-straps, fast tacks, up-wind sailing, introduction to gybing.

12-26 September 2013

12-19 Sept 2013 Week 1 – Improve Your Style – Intermediates+

Minimum level – Intermediate + , able to sail upwind.
Course content to include:  improve sailing with the harness, move  to foot-straps/improve foot-straps, fast tacks, up-wind sailing, introduction to gybing.

19-26 Sept  2013 Week 2 – Jump & Gybe – Advanced.

Minumum level – Advanced. Able to confidently sail in the harness and footstraps.

Course content to include: Course content will focus on improved gybing and jumping but will also be tailored to suit individual interests such as learning to loop or improved sailing in waves.

Join one or both weeks, one you have mastered the moves with the ‘Improve you Style’ Week you’ll be ready to move onto more advanced moves with the Jump and Gybe weeks.

To book your place contact Sportif:

Tel 01273 844919

Email: info@sportif.travel

http://www.sportif.travel/news/show/new_thrill_chill_multi_activity_weeks

RETAIL

TRAVEL

Check it out here: www.sigrisurf.com

Sigri Surf are still running our special offer for you; one week windsurf rental for only 150€! Book now and email more information: info@sigrisurf.com

They are looking forward to meeting you in Sigri!

Sigri Surf new website

Travel to the beautiful Cabarete with Sportif – for more information on the destination head to their website  here. 

Also this summer the water women movement, The Butterfly Effect are running a week for the ladies in Cabarete.

Holiday Week Trip 

$850

July 21-28

♥ Windsurf

♥ Kitesurf

♥ SUP

♥ Surf

Includes:

7 Nights Accommodation

Surf Trips

Canyon Tour

Airport Transfers

Yoga on SUP

Nights Out

Intro/tips to Windsports

And More!

Sign Up Now

at www.betheeffect.com or email

info@betheeffect.com

Sigri Surfcenter

MAY:

• HEAD TO SIGRI IN MAY!

• RENT OUR BRAND-NEW SURF EQUIPMENT (GAASTRA & SIMMER SAILS & TABOU BOARD) FREE BIKE / SUP HIRE ARE INCLUDED.

• AS WELL AS SURFING, WE ALSO OFFER TRIPS TO ERESSOS ETC. FOR SIGHTSEEING!

• THERE ARE ALSO FURTHER SPECIAL TRAVEL OFFERS FROM SPORTIF

Outside Sigri Surfcenter

JUNE:

• ESPECIALLY FOR YOU WE CONTINUE OUR SPECIAL OFFER!

• YOU CAN RENT OUR BRAND-NEW SURF EQUIPMENT AND FREE BIKE/SUP HIRE IS ALSO INCLUDED

• ADDITIONALLY, IN SIGRI YOU HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVIES

TO CHOOSE FROM (SUP AND SURF SAFARIS, TRIPS TO OTHER VILLAGES, VISITING THE PETRIFIED FOREST PLUS MUCH MORE

• IT IS DEFINITELY WORTH COMING TO SIGRI, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE WIND, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF IT’S UNIQUENESS!

Find out more from Sigri Surf 

Flat water at Sigri Surfcenter

Ocean Elements are ready for the 2012 season, renovations finished, winds on the way and a great offer for May.

Vassiliki: New season, new gear, low price !

Preparing for the busy season ahead

With the new Surf Hotel Board Store built (and the old one cleared to make  way for more sun loungers!), it’s time to get the new kit into shape ready  for our first guests. It looks as if the wind is beginning to pick up very  nicely, with good early season conditions kicking in.

http://www.alpineelements.co.uk/beach-holidays.html

The new boardstore

Bubble enjoying Prasonisi

Heavy winter storms massively broke through the sandbar, to separate the island off Prasonisi from the mainland in Southern Rhodes. The natural channel linking the flat water and wave area is wide open and will offer great sailing conditions plus the flexibility to sail between the flat water and the on shore wave side. In addition, the warm temperatures with Prasonisi’s constant and strong (up to 20-30 knots) winds will make your sailing experience just perfect.

So why not experience it first hand and benefit from a great opening package deal for June:

25% OFF Hotel Ocean Palace 7 nights BB right on the spot AND 25% OFF Board Rental at Procenter with the latest JP/Neil Pryde 2012 equipment. Over 150 boards and 205 rigs to choose from!

For more information and bookings please contact Sportif at www.sportif.travel or www.prasonisi.com -

Prasonisi – warm, windy and reliable!

Youp at Prasonisi