Thursday, 11 February 2010
Windsurfing in Madeira: some serious (all-be-it mast breaking) wave potential!
Madeira is a world class surfing venue but would it work for a two week windsurfing trip? Olympic sailor, Hugh Sims Williams came out to Madeira to train on his RS:X but also sneaked in his wave board.
Why Madeira? Because in the peak summer season you will be the only one on the water! They only saw two other windsurfers in their two week stay in August. That would tell you that the island is not renowned for its windsurfing and the high cliffs of Madeira make a lot of beaches unsailable unless you’re on big kit and prepared to sail offshore. However, they did find some serious (all-be-it mast breaking) wave potential!
Madeira’s windsurfing world champion: João RODRIGUES
In 2008 at the RS:X European Championships João RODRIGUES stepped onto the top step of the podium at an Olympic windsurfing class European Championship. He did so in 1996 and 1997 following up his World Championship gold medal in Port Elizabeth in 1995.
Madeira windsurf spots
Besides the most well-known Canico, Funchal, Achadas da Cruz try..
Paul do Mar: faces south-west, long pebble/stone beach, gets some of the biggest waves on the island. Good luck!
Canical: launch from the beach next to the harbour. Only suitable for Formula or big board sailing as offshore winds are standard during the summer trades. It is very windy here and provides good access to sail around to the north side of the island, where the swell is massive. This is where we launched to train on the Olympic RSX kit.
Cabo Girao: Vidar Jenson sailed here a few times when he visited the island in the spring of 2006. He’s quite good though!
Link to source boardseeker.com: http://www.boardseekermag.com/travel_features/madeira/madeira_023.htm
Blog site: Madeira Windsurfing with films: http://windsurfingmadeira.blogspot.com/2010/02/windsurfing-paul-do-mar-calheta-madeira.html
One of Madeira’s Windsurfing clubs: ‘Forca 5’
http://www.clubef5.com/web/
Why Madeira? Because in the peak summer season you will be the only one on the water! They only saw two other windsurfers in their two week stay in August. That would tell you that the island is not renowned for its windsurfing and the high cliffs of Madeira make a lot of beaches unsailable unless you’re on big kit and prepared to sail offshore. However, they did find some serious (all-be-it mast breaking) wave potential!
Madeira’s windsurfing world champion: João RODRIGUES
In 2008 at the RS:X European Championships João RODRIGUES stepped onto the top step of the podium at an Olympic windsurfing class European Championship. He did so in 1996 and 1997 following up his World Championship gold medal in Port Elizabeth in 1995.
Madeira windsurf spots
Besides the most well-known Canico, Funchal, Achadas da Cruz try..
Paul do Mar: faces south-west, long pebble/stone beach, gets some of the biggest waves on the island. Good luck!
Canical: launch from the beach next to the harbour. Only suitable for Formula or big board sailing as offshore winds are standard during the summer trades. It is very windy here and provides good access to sail around to the north side of the island, where the swell is massive. This is where we launched to train on the Olympic RSX kit.
Cabo Girao: Vidar Jenson sailed here a few times when he visited the island in the spring of 2006. He’s quite good though!
Link to source boardseeker.com: http://www.boardseekermag.com/travel_features/madeira/madeira_023.htm
Blog site: Madeira Windsurfing with films: http://windsurfingmadeira.blogspot.com/2010/02/windsurfing-paul-do-mar-calheta-madeira.html
One of Madeira’s Windsurfing clubs: ‘Forca 5’
http://www.clubef5.com/web/
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