Sport Today

I have completed a short 'trip report' and a photo album of our recent (1/22-29)
trip  to Aruba for some windsurfing.  Anyone interested in Aruba and/or windsurfing
may want to take a look at:
   www.hammocktree.org/ms/trips.html

The windsurfing photos are my first attempt from out 'in the water' using a
waterproof camera.  They are not the best, but will give you some idea.....

Mike

Mike,
Nice pictures Mike.  Thanx for sharing with the rest of us.
Doesn't look like it was very busy with sailors even though the wind
must have been pretty good.  I'm heading for Bonaire this week and hope
to post some pics of THAT place in a couple.

Peace,
David

I just got back from Aruba yesterday and also had a great trip.  The
good wind that Mike brought lasted through our stay. The largest sail I
used was a 6.0.  The largest sail I saw anyone checkout was a 7.0.

The first day, it was blowing 35 kts and I got throughly thrashed.  My
TOW over the last few years has decreased and I wasn't physically ready
for wind that strong. Once the wind calmed down, I found a nice spot to
do long reaches in waist deep water and had a great time.

I was suprised at the number of kiters.  There seemed to be several out
every morning before 10 am and many after 5pm.  This worked out very
well since Vela closes at 5:30. During the day, there averaged 20+
windsurfers on the water.  Plenty of beautiful water for everyone.

I was also suprised at the number of "first timers" on the water.  I
always figured that since Aruba is such a high wind location, it
wouldn't be good for beginners.  There is an area just off the beach,
in the wind shadow that was perfect for learning.  The Vela instructors
could teach anyone to sail back and forth within an hour.

In case anyone is interested, Marriott is running a deal, 5 days 4
nights for $498.  The only catch is that you have to listen to their
1.5 hr timeshare sales pitch.  I'm not sure how to sign up, but there
was a Marriot rep in the airport signing people up.

CTM

Mike,

Great pics.  If you don't mind me asking...you obviously did not book
your trip through Vela, right?  Did you just "reserve" your gear
through them then?

Right, since I had the 'free' nights at the Holiday Inn, we reserved directly with
the HI and since I was using Delta FF tickets, that was directly with Delta.  I did
reserve our equipment ahead of time with Vela, in case they were busy. But as David
observed, there wasn't much of a crowd and  we never approached an equipment
shortage.  You would have done fine as a 'walk-up' that week.

Mike

If you go to that same web page and then go down about 4 or 5 trips, you'll see a
trip report and some (but fewer) pictures from Bonaire.   We had a great time there
also...  The WS area is different from Aruba, but great in it's own way.
You'll have fun!!

Mike

Mike:  Thanks for linking.  Basic (and nice, BTW) trip shots are so
great.  I wish I took the time to create a web-page and post some of my
own.  Looks like you had a good time, and I do like the realistic
descriptions and, in particular, shots of the rental gear.  Picture and
1000 words, etc.

-Dan

Thanks Dan...
I've gotten so much useful information from this list that I'm glad to be able to do
a little to contribute something myself.....
   Mike