First windsurf session Autumn 2010

After almost one month without any windsurf conditions were finally good for getting back on board.

It as a good opportunity to meet some friends int the best set possible with the good north wind providing for the fun.

Days like this make me feel alive and forget all the bad of the world at least for a while.

A great afternoon. Ride until night. Muscles aching, tiredness setting in. If only all days could be as fulfilling as this one.

Fifth and last day at Tarifa

I was so eager to go and windsurf that I woke up really early, before even the sun rosed from behind the mountains. I went for a walk in the beach and enjoyed a warm, windy, start of the day.

As the wind blew still too strong for my gear we (what was left of the team, as some already started their trip back home) decided to follow a tip about some spots that were less windy and off we went to the east side of Tarifa.

After going up and down the mountains we arrived to the first spot. It looked too commercial. A parking park with more people to received money than cars, houses and constructions until the beach. Not nice, not our vibe at all. So we kept going until we arrived at the second tip: Palmones beach.

Now, I was rather disappointed with the wind at the spot so my feeling about the place can be totally wrong. It was a bad smelly and horrible wind place. The wind was funneled in a tight channel by the Gibraltar Rock. In 10 m you would have some wind and then there would be a total stall. Then there was the current caused by a river that made strange, very short period waves. All this mixed with a constant sound of big engines (it's very close to harbors and industrial installations) and the smell of oily, badly burned fuel.

We were supposed to stay for another day but after this bad experience, the rain and cloudy sky we just decided that we would better start the trip back.

And that was it for this trip to Tarifa.

Tarifa, forth day

"Be careful of what you wish."

After a day of playful waiting the wishes for wind were soaring high and what do you know, they were answered. The levante had arrived in force. Wind blowing at 35 knots, gust reaching the 43 (measured in land, ou in the water it was for sure more). My smallest sail, a 5.4 m², and my medium sized board (100 litters) were far too much to venture some sailing so I just set my self for a photo session.

The focus of my photos and videos were the members of the team that had gear for such conditions.

Look in those pictures. Look at how the wave foam is being blown away by the wind.

This was the second time this year that I really felt that a smaller sail is needed. I think I have to get my hand on a 4.2 m² sail. Maybe a 85 l board would also be a good idea. Time to go out shopping...