I thought I would share my recent experience windsurfing in the tropics - Fiji actually. It was late August. Winter colds were getting me down and warm sunshine and low airfares ($700 Melb - Nandi return) for this time of year won me. I must say that I have been spoiled. Since my return it has been hard to get motivated to get back into the colder Geelong waters. Bring on summer. After years windsurfing in a wetsuit, all I needed was booties to protect against the coral and a light top to keep the sun off of my pale Victorian sun tan.

It’s against forum rules to advertise, but what I would like to say is our hosts were great people. The lodge, on an island called Nananu-i-Ra had great kit. All 2010 boards and sails and I had the choice of bay sailing or a 5 mile by boat trip off shore to the protected inside edge of an outer reef for some smooth water blasting. Then a choice of a boat trip back or an escorted down-winder back to accommodation, a hot shower and cold beer. Not necessarily in that order.

When I wasn't windsurfing:










There was bush walking with the missus:




When bushwalking was too much, there was fishing:




When I got bored with catching Tuna and Spanish Mackerel (which earned me lots of beers at dinner) there was swimming and snorkeling and beach walks:




Had a great time, will be going again next winter and can thoroughly recommend it to anybody looking for a winter break and great wind and kite surfing opportunities.

warrens place at Nananu-i-Ra is best worth a visit at least once or more in your life if you love to windsurf in our off season!

Just thinking yesterday about how well Geoff got the boat launch thing happening.

Lifes hard when you untie your sailboard bring to side of boat and step onto board and go.

Warren's recovery in open water technique of driving boat under your bum while you were sailing so all you do is sit down and you are in the boat is also fun.

when we had the GPS strapped on and the tide low and we were out there, we had just 15kts of wind.

But still managed max speeds about 26-27kts and a 25kt+ nautical mile time.

It was the same weather system that was drenching Victoria that had us stuck on a repeating cycle of the first 2 days of the trade wind cycle.
the following week they were getting 25-30kts.

The potential for this spot in 25kts for a nautical mile and Alpha times is mind boggling.

I have been going to Fiji and Safari lodge since 2004 and this is the second time we got caught in such a weather system, the first being only the first week. This time it started half way through first week and finished the end of the second week. Although the last 3-4 days had great morning winds on the high tide, which made for great sailing in the home bay.
Kiters had well powered downwinders every day.

It was just us looking for speed runs that drew the short straw.

Next Year we will be cooking. and give us 20+kts and that Nautical mile record is ours.

That last little squiggle before the dead down wind line.
Holding the one flat out tack for 1.5NM at a time is hard work on this old body.

Cue Warren's reply about how good it was and 'weren't they great days' discussion.

Hey Tony, great to know you got your camera back safely. Now all you have to do is get reunited wiht your kite. I'll let you know when I am up you way next.
Cheers Geoff.

This looks great, I am planning on a trip with the family to Fiji later this year possibly about mid October, unsure what Island. I would love to get in some Windsurfing, but I have been very disappointed with the equipment and the lack of interest the resorts have shown in the sport in general when I gave stayed at resorts in the past. To convince the Wife to make the trip from Adelaide to Fiji she is wanting to stay somewhere 4.5 to 5 star, with things like organised kids club and Day spa, restaurants and nice pools etc. all in the resort.

I know there are several of these to choose from on the Islands. What I would like to know is that Windsurfing available from other resorts or something similar? We are thinking of staying about 7 to 8 nights. I would call myself an advanced beginner, I can harness and just get in the straps, pretty hit and miss with deep water starts and gybing etc. But would love to spend a few hours a day taking lessons from an experienced rider and then maybe tackle something similar to run listed above but more than likely a shorter version :) I know advertising isnt allowed on these boards so feel free to send me a Private Message if that is what is required or any basic info and links etc. would be good.

As mentioned my idea of relaxing would be a few hours every day Windsurfing, but to get this time away from the family the resort would need to be top notch so I am allowed to return without being locked out :) the kids are 4 and 1yr. We have also looked at the Vela packages in Maui but the accommodation was more suited to young groups of guys for pure Windsurfing trip, also I have done very minimal Kite surfing when it was in its very early days with 2 line kite and large directional board and very inadequate safety release systems, and it was the scariest thing I have ever done and have not been back since, so I would like to use this time as well to maybe take a lesson or 2 with some modern gear and see if I can get some confidence back that the sport isn’t the most dangerous on earth :) so any suggestions would be great.

TMan said...
To convince the Wife to make the trip from Adelaide to Fiji she is wanting to stay somewhere 4.5 to 5 star, with things like organised kids club and Day spa, restaurants and nice pools etc. all in the resort.
...my idea of relaxing would be a few hours every day Windsurfing

I don't understand this "5 star" plastic mentality at all, which seems to have infected many of my genre. Isn't marriage supposed to be a balanced partnership? Even HRH the Queen enjoys her holidays relaxing at Balmoral with hunting, fishing, riding and walking in great abundance.
If it were my husband I would be demanding to go somewhere like The Safari Lodge. Go and read some of the reviews on trip advisor, see what people with kids thought :-)
Maui is also great as the north shore windsurfing is only half an hour away from the resorts on the leeward side.