We asked our activity manager Gary Sinclair to share where in the world (other than our beach resorts of course!) he rates as being particularly brilliant places to ride the waves. Here's his pick of some of the most spectacular places around the world to sail, SUP, waterski or windsurf.
Gary says “A stunning location to sail in. Lake Garda boasts fantastically consistent winds, with plenty of options to get lessons and hire dinghies”. The mountain scenery is simply epic, it’s a very special place for beginners to learn the basics of dinghy sailing.
Gary says “A stretch of water between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, The Solent is peppered with many great sailing clubs and places to sail from. With the Isle of Wight acting as a windbreak, this area generally gets calmer waters and is great for beginners up to advanced sailors. Another area with incredible scenery, including some great rugged coastline and then throw in bags of history and you can see why it’s one of the best sailing locations in the UK.”
Whilst gondolas rule the waterways of Venice, stand up paddle boarding is taking off too and offers a unique new way to discover the sites of this Italian city. Gary says “Stand up paddle boarding is a bit of cooler way to see Venice and avoid the crowds. Tours are available to book with local operators such as SUP Venice.”
Gary says “This is a European windsurfing mecca. A stunning location with mountains either side of the bay. It can get very windy in the afternoon when the famous wind “Eric” arrives. The conditions make it easy to launch and land from, plus there are flat, warm waters and no tides. The Neilson Cosmos Beachclub is based here and you can quite often see 100+ windsurfers out on the water on a windy afternoon.”
Gary says “At this beautiful place in the south of Devon you can circumnavigate the island in either direction in just over an hour on a stand up paddle board. There are lots of nooks and crannies to explore, as well as stunning scenery and history landmarks. Options to rent equipment are available at Bigbury Beach”
Gary says “This place has a great holiday vibe, and is popular with surfers, but it’s also brilliantly set-up for water skiers too with drivers and boats available to hire to give you a tow.”
Gary says“Poole is one of the largest natural harbours in the world, and it is very popular for windsurfing. It’s the perfect place to learn with flat waters and the seabed shelves gently so you can still stand up if you fall in. You can windsurf in most wind directions and there are lots of options on renting equipment and getting lessons.”
Gary says“The UK is blessed with many great sailing locations either inland or on the coast (however, you do have to put up with the UK weather on occasions!) Loch Lomond in Scotland has great sailing conditions with stunning scenery and an active sailing club. Plus, you also don’t have to worry about the tides with it being inland.”
If you’re new to watersports, you’re probably wondering what to wear and how to choose the right clothing for a day or even a few hours on the water.
Europe is home to some world-class windsurfing locations, with destinations to suit absolute beginners to those that will excite and challenge the most experienced windsurfers. Greece, in particular offers some amazing locations and conditions for your next fix of windsurfing.
This guide puts the spotlight on dinghy sailing and explains why it’s both a fun and challenging sport for everyone.
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