I already have all that. I want some info like some people have told me about on this site about Bonaire. For example, in Bonaire they have that Chinese spread at the Cocoa Palms. Stuff like that.
Don't know how much the island has changed since then but hope this helps.
the place I sailed from was the public beach. A guy had a small windsurfing concession which I think got blown away the next year in a hurricane. The beach was right beside the more famous "nudist" beach.
Winds that week weren't that strong but this was back when a 7.5 was a huge sail and I sailed on a 6.5 all week.
The cruise ships all come in on the Dutch side. Avoid that like the plague. Most if not all the good restaurants are on the French side. Burger king was on the Dutch side. Get a rental car for your time down there so you can drive around and eat where you want. Everyone was very mellow and easy going. They call it the "Friendly Island" because apparently the French and Dutch sides got along without killing each other.
Among my favorite memories was getting directions from an old drunk guy who only spoke drunken French Creole. We were trying to find a little restaurant tucked away up hill. Somehow he made sense and we found the place and it was worth it.
I sailed at the same beach around 2003 one afternoon coming off the cruise ship. The "nude" beach is not worth the trip , but the windsurfing was ok. They had a pretty decent operation there, with a good selection of boards and sails. The bay is pretty open, so unlike some protected bays I recall there was more chop than you might expect (I had sailed aruba a few days before on the trip so that might have colored my memory.) Do check and make sure there is still a windsurfing business there. Might be all kiting by now.
If you were going there anyway, its worth a try, but I don't think I'd go there just for windsurfing. There are probably better places, even Florida on a good weekend might be a better option. Certainly, if you are going that far better places are probably available.
—
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
As I wait to come home, I can tell you that this place s in no way a walking meca. When I got here wins were blowing 25 to 30 and vela was not allowing any boards out nor were they allowing hobie cats out. Then the wind went to about 10 and that was not worth sailing. Equipment selection was very limited, used and not in that great of shape. It does not even closely resemble hood river's Maui, bonaire or Aruba. I would say the selection was 15% of whatis offered on bonaire. Sailing area is loaded with bouts, moored boats parisails. Only one kite boarder on the windy day. I traveled the entire island and orient bay is the only rental location.
Otherwise, the island is the same as st Thomas's st criox and has a lot of similarities as Jamaica
Very poo interior, french and Dutch tourist with quite a few super rich. Billionaire yachts and even the yacht belonging to simon cowell. No doubt I was super impressed. The decide between rich middle class - tourist and the poor is very obvious. This is not the case in bonaire. I guess this is what Obama is trying to tell us. The effects of the recession are clear. Looks like home with empty strip centers.
You will have to excuse the writing on this android, it does not cooperate all the time
I think I will stick with bonaire as being the most fun to sail.
Your tales of woe remind me of growing up skiing in NC.
Me: I'd like to ski today.
Mother Nature: You can't go today.
Me: Why?
Mother Nature: Not enough snow.
Me: How about tomorrow?
Mother Nature: You can't go tomorrow, either.
Me: Why?
Mother Nature: It will be snowing and you can't get through the mountains to the ski area.
Hope at least the food was good and the rest of the family enjoyed themselves. Sometimes my lovely bride will admit to wishing for there not to be wind. "That way, we see more of you."
David, thanks for the trip report. My wife and I planned on going to St. Martin last winter until we read on the web about numerous reports of theft attributed to the have, have-not divide and attitude of it's OK to steal from the rich.
We did have a great time on a winter windsurfing trip to Lake Arenal and Bahia Salinas in Costa Rica. People were friendly and the was lots to do besides windsurfing. However, be prepared for nuclear winds in the 4.0m, or smaller range this time of year.
I saw all the crime posted on the internet. We did not have any problems. I got them to give me an older rental car. Took off the hub caps and put beads and a cd hanging from the rearview mirror. Dumped old coke cans in the back seat. No one broke into the car but that could be why.
Summary of the island
They claim to have the most restaurants of all the islands. In reality they must be counting every little beach side bar that serves burgers with plastic lawn chairs and thatch roofs.
They claim to have 37 beaches. Well there probably are, somewhere. Beaches are nice and sandy but very small. Most have rental chairs from $10 to $30.
At dinner one night they served me an 8 oz bottle of beer for $10. Otherwise, beach food is like movie theater or elementary school food.
French restaurants were a bit better but no one seems to know how to cook fish.
Waves can be a problem for swimming in the winter. A lot of people don't know how to get in and out of the water so they get beat up in the surf. Quite fun to watch.
Nude beach was terrible. Some people's skin looked like tanned leather. Like looking at an elephant's butt. Really gross. Ratio of good looking chicks to every one else is about 1 to 10. I have always thought it was cool to see a great topless lady now and then but this was like the line I as in while being inducted into the military. Not Fun. I guess I could have lied and built up the story but I thought the truth would be even more interesting.
The place is currently in a recession. We ate out every night and lunch and one of our priorities was to get a table over looking the water. Every time we ate we got that table and we never had to wait - anywhere.
What makes SM popular. I believe it is the end stop for all those cruise lines. They come to the island but they do not go farther east or south.
Snorkeling and diving are not worth it because the ocean floor is mainly sand.
I talked with several business owners and windsurfing is not common on SM nor any of the other close by islands. Even though Vela has rental locations on SM and neighboring islands.
So why did I go there? 4 hr non stop flight, never been there before, trying to get away from the cold here at home ( that didn't work right ).
It's probably just me, but I like Bonaire much better. 5 hr flight with one layover.
I already have airfare for the whole family( including Brittany and her new husband ) to Bonaire for June 22nd. Everyone will sail with the exception of Gail. I will have a new video ready for the next Christmas party.
Marek - Have you been windsurfing at Lake Arenal in March? I had a great time sailing there with you in Feb. & wonder if the wind is still good later in the season.
Dave - I heard that Jibe City is getting new windsurfing gear over the winter.
By the time I get there, in June, it will be used equipment again. But that's ok because it still works good. I plan on making two beginners, Mike and Brittany, into full sailing windsrufers.
I didn't qualify for the 30 knot club but I will be the first on the block to have 5 windsurfers in the family.
Whoa David! Not so fast! This is Peggy "weighing in" on historical fact.
Eight years ago we had our family of five to include a daughter-in-law PLUS
brother, making it 6, all windsurfing together in Corpus Christi. Yes, I did
windsurf and briefly could get into both harness and footstraps before the catapult.
I'm the only drop-out but hey, I'm 65 and into "product".
If you mean Saint Martin I found this
http://www.fanatic-boarderscenter.com/en/destinations/home/3/genInfo
and this
http://www.velawindsurf.com/html/pages/destinations/st-martin.php
now you have to take me too for all my hard work
Alan
I already have all that. I want some info like some people have told me about on this site about Bonaire. For example, in Bonaire they have that Chinese spread at the Cocoa Palms. Stuff like that.
PeelSkid
Visited in 94.
Don't know how much the island has changed since then but hope this helps.
the place I sailed from was the public beach. A guy had a small windsurfing concession which I think got blown away the next year in a hurricane. The beach was right beside the more famous "nudist" beach.
Winds that week weren't that strong but this was back when a 7.5 was a huge sail and I sailed on a 6.5 all week.
The cruise ships all come in on the Dutch side. Avoid that like the plague. Most if not all the good restaurants are on the French side. Burger king was on the Dutch side. Get a rental car for your time down there so you can drive around and eat where you want. Everyone was very mellow and easy going. They call it the "Friendly Island" because apparently the French and Dutch sides got along without killing each other.
Among my favorite memories was getting directions from an old drunk guy who only spoke drunken French Creole. We were trying to find a little restaurant tucked away up hill. Somehow he made sense and we found the place and it was worth it.
I sailed at the same beach around 2003 one afternoon coming off the cruise ship. The "nude" beach is not worth the trip
, but the windsurfing was ok. They had a pretty decent operation there, with a good selection of boards and sails. The bay is pretty open, so unlike some protected bays I recall there was more chop than you might expect (I had sailed aruba a few days before on the trip so that might have colored my memory.) Do check and make sure there is still a windsurfing business there. Might be all kiting by now.
If you were going there anyway, its worth a try, but I don't think I'd go there just for windsurfing. There are probably better places, even Florida on a good weekend might be a better option. Certainly, if you are going that far better places are probably available.
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
I gave up long ago going to places just to windsurf.
Got skunked in Bonaire in Jan.
Got Skinked in Maui in Jan.
Got Skinked in Fla. in Jan.
Nope just a fun winter getaway with Gail.
PeelSkid
It's a Kite/Wind surf paradise! May I suggest you a place to stay?
As I wait to come home, I can tell you that this place s in no way a walking meca. When I got here wins were blowing 25 to 30 and vela was not allowing any boards out nor were they allowing hobie cats out. Then the wind went to about 10 and that was not worth sailing. Equipment selection was very limited, used and not in that great of shape. It does not even closely resemble hood river's Maui, bonaire or Aruba. I would say the selection was 15% of whatis offered on bonaire. Sailing area is loaded with bouts, moored boats parisails. Only one kite boarder on the windy day. I traveled the entire island and orient bay is the only rental location.
Otherwise, the island is the same as st Thomas's st criox and has a lot of similarities as Jamaica
Very poo interior, french and Dutch tourist with quite a few super rich. Billionaire yachts and even the yacht belonging to simon cowell. No doubt I was super impressed. The decide between rich middle class - tourist and the poor is very obvious. This is not the case in bonaire. I guess this is what Obama is trying to tell us. The effects of the recession are clear. Looks like home with empty strip centers.
You will have to excuse the writing on this android, it does not cooperate all the time
I think I will stick with bonaire as being the most fun to sail.
PeelSkid
Your tales of woe remind me of growing up skiing in NC.
Me: I'd like to ski today.
Mother Nature: You can't go today.
Me: Why?
Mother Nature: Not enough snow.
Me: How about tomorrow?
Mother Nature: You can't go tomorrow, either.
Me: Why?
Mother Nature: It will be snowing and you can't get through the mountains to the ski area.
Hope at least the food was good and the rest of the family enjoyed themselves. Sometimes my lovely bride will admit to wishing for there not to be wind. "That way, we see more of you."
David, thanks for the trip report. My wife and I planned on going to St. Martin last winter until we read on the web about numerous reports of theft attributed to the have, have-not divide and attitude of it's OK to steal from the rich.
We did have a great time on a winter windsurfing trip to Lake Arenal and Bahia Salinas in Costa Rica. People were friendly and the was lots to do besides windsurfing. However, be prepared for nuclear winds in the 4.0m, or smaller range this time of year.
Barrett
I saw all the crime posted on the internet. We did not have any problems. I got them to give me an older rental car. Took off the hub caps and put beads and a cd hanging from the rearview mirror. Dumped old coke cans in the back seat. No one broke into the car but that could be why.
Summary of the island
They claim to have the most restaurants of all the islands. In reality they must be counting every little beach side bar that serves burgers with plastic lawn chairs and thatch roofs.
They claim to have 37 beaches. Well there probably are, somewhere. Beaches are nice and sandy but very small. Most have rental chairs from $10 to $30.
At dinner one night they served me an 8 oz bottle of beer for $10. Otherwise, beach food is like movie theater or elementary school food.
French restaurants were a bit better but no one seems to know how to cook fish.
Waves can be a problem for swimming in the winter. A lot of people don't know how to get in and out of the water so they get beat up in the surf. Quite fun to watch.
Nude beach was terrible. Some people's skin looked like tanned leather. Like looking at an elephant's butt. Really gross. Ratio of good looking chicks to every one else is about 1 to 10. I have always thought it was cool to see a great topless lady now and then but this was like the line I as in while being inducted into the military. Not Fun. I guess I could have lied and built up the story but I thought the truth would be even more interesting.
The place is currently in a recession. We ate out every night and lunch and one of our priorities was to get a table over looking the water. Every time we ate we got that table and we never had to wait - anywhere.
What makes SM popular. I believe it is the end stop for all those cruise lines. They come to the island but they do not go farther east or south.
Snorkeling and diving are not worth it because the ocean floor is mainly sand.
I talked with several business owners and windsurfing is not common on SM nor any of the other close by islands. Even though Vela has rental locations on SM and neighboring islands.
So why did I go there? 4 hr non stop flight, never been there before, trying to get away from the cold here at home ( that didn't work right ).
It's probably just me, but I like Bonaire much better. 5 hr flight with one layover.
I already have airfare for the whole family( including Brittany and her new husband ) to Bonaire for June 22nd. Everyone will sail with the exception of Gail. I will have a new video ready for the next Christmas party.
PeelSkid
Costa Rica at Lake Arenal - That's the ticket
Out of 23 days over three visits, had 21 days of 3.5 to 5.8 (and that’s all day …not few hours per day)
Great equipment and great service at Tico Wind, and we did not have to hang beads on the mirror or throw empty coke cans about the car.
Atlanta has been going from least windy in US to least windy on the planet this season.
Marek
Marek - Have you been windsurfing at Lake Arenal in March? I had a great time sailing there with you in Feb. & wonder if the wind is still good later in the season.
Dave - I heard that Jibe City is getting new windsurfing gear over the winter.
Barrett
By the time I get there, in June, it will be used equipment again. But that's ok because it still works good. I plan on making two beginners, Mike and Brittany, into full sailing windsrufers.
I didn't qualify for the 30 knot club but I will be the first on the block to have 5 windsurfers in the family.
PeelSkid
Whoa David! Not so fast! This is Peggy "weighing in" on historical fact.
Eight years ago we had our family of five to include a daughter-in-law PLUS
brother, making it 6, all windsurfing together in Corpus Christi. Yes, I did
windsurf and briefly could get into both harness and footstraps before the catapult.
I'm the only drop-out but hey, I'm 65 and into "product".
Have fun in Bonaire!
Barrett
Well, I stand corrected but there aren't many of us.
PeelSkid