Places
This is my Underground Text of Windsurfing Destinations and includes
information for the fanatical windsurfer trying to get to the best places and
sail the most on a very tight budget. If you are like me then you have chosen to give
up a great deal of income producing time in order to be on the water. You are
probably down-right poor from a money perspective and hopefully filthy rich with
fulfillment.
This is not the MLT approach to windsurfing with fancy rooms, dinners every night, and
an expensive resort. Please do not misunderstand me, I am happy for the people who
can have this lifestyle -- maybe someday I can as well.
Of course, to clear myself of snobbery, everyone can benefit from my experience and
the information on this site. Click on the place below for more information.
- The Gorge is windy in January but very cold. One year, after going back to my home town in Minnesota
for Christmas and returning to Maui--I lived in Maui during the winters @ that time --
I stopped in the Gorge for the month of Januray and I sailed 21 days out of 31.
There was even a triple-forties day: wind gusting to 40 mph, 45 degrees temperature, and
water at 43 degrees. Now that was an advenurous and harsh day.
I heard "in the day" many local sailors sailed year around but now it seems
not very common. May & October are sometimes good, sometimes ok, and sometimes just bad.
- Maui is good all year. Windiest in summer. Biggest waves in January.
Most people go to Maui (myself included) for wavesailing so spring and fall are
best for wind and waves.
- WA is possible in OCT/NOV for Gnarloo and late spring in Esperance. Generally, early season is
best in the north and late season is in the south.
Disclaimer:
Things change, prices go up, building are built, etc... So everything I have written here
may not be fact but simply my experience at the time I wrote this page.
be sure to do your own research and use this site as my personal testimony at a
point in time in the past.
Considerations
| Transportation |
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Let's face the facts. If you are going to be a give-your-life-to-windsurfing, you will always be faced
with wanting to go places longer than a two week vacation and so the issue of buying or renting transport is
in your mind. One can also consider of getting to a destination and just staying put without a auto. That is
the best of course. The answer is not always easy. One must factor in length of stay, insurance,
registration, risk, time to find a car and time to find a buyer.
Drop-Dead plan to sell such as bring it to a dealer.
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| Windsurfing Gear |
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Buy versus rent. Transfers.
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| Staying Connected |
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Staying connected on windsurfing trips is very important. Remember to
understand and budget internet and phone usage on your travels. These
fees are easy to underestimate. For example, 2 hours a week for internet
usage (Email and checking the wind) can cost you about about $48/month.
If your gone for two months then there goes about $100 mainly to
get EMail from friends. Hint... Write all your EMail before hand and
then just type away when you are on the clock.
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| Accomodations |
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Sleep in your vehicle. Caravan Parks. Renting. Destination Windsurfing.
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| Money |
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Have a good strategy for money and always budget way more than you think.
Research the exchange rate fees and where you can exchange money.
I believe countries worldwide should encourage tourism
spending and there should be no exchange fees or maximum of 3%. There is no
tourism value in exchange fees. verify the Usage of your credit card or debit
card and remember you will always need to have local currency cash on hand.
Credit cards will usually charge an exchange rate fee of around 3%.
Sometimes, you can also use the ATM to withdraw money but this
is usually a little higher rate, more likely 4% from your bank, plus the ATM bank fees.
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