We started and finished the week starring at the reef as the wind left us wanting for most of the week. But then you don’t need a force 12 to hone your windsurfing technique; light wind training can provide the key to our high wind success. With Quayside leaving for home, it was time to move down to Club Dahab for their Speed Week, but then, its more than just speed.
As the Quayside Windsurfers week came to an end, the weather gave us the perfect opportunity for some snorkelling out at the Napoleon Reef. For some, this was also the first opportunity to see where many of sail when the wind and swell arrives. The Reef keep a perfect flat area to improve your speed and gybing, but pass through and you’re into the waves. For those that think this maybe a bit daunting, there are do beach beaks to negotiate, its like being dropped out back, plus the waves are more swell than wave with only the occasional one topped with white water.
On the windiest day of the week I was sailing between these two area’s when was joined by Sam Stills. I was using a Matrix 8.5 but despite his tender years and 46kg body weight he was having no problem in holding a 7.8. I was starting to wonder who was pushing who, he popped onto the plane and shot off leaving me to pump like had just to keep up.
Back on the beach at Club Dahab I met Sam’s ten-year-old twin sisters, Saskia, Imogen were just sailing back across the bay, all three of them are great examples of how successful the RYA are with the youth program in the UK. But with all the youth events in the UK, plus three kids, it finally has to come down to a dedicated Mum and Dad, and talking to them later it didn’t take long to find out where the three got there enthuasum from.
That momentary sign of wing soon disappeared, so I got everyone on the water in an up-hauling competition. Take a board with just ten liters more volume that there weight, who could up-haul and sail away. For some this meant stepping onto a board way smaller then they’d ever tried, but with nothing serious to be learnt it was just for fun, or so they thought. After an hour everyone was able to hold their balance, even if it was only for a few second, so I added another ten liters.
Everyone found it easy, even the guys that had been worried about trying a smaller board had no problem. Confidence up and were ready to find out if it really turns out to be the key to success. All we need is wind, until then is back to the snorkeling, this time at the Blue Hole.
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