de retour des Cyclades/Grèce, 7-8 Beaufort tous les jours, 7-8 Beaufort tous les jours en août, ça mérite un petit post
Posté : 13 août 2008, 15:50
De retour de 15 jours dans les Cyclades (Grèce) : 7-8 Beaufort tous les jours en août, ça mérite un petit post <img src="smileys/original.gif" alt=":)" class="smiley" /><br /><br />
en fait, j'avais cherché & trouvé très peu d'info sur les spots (Cyclades, Mykonos) sur le web avant de partir, et les Cyclades mériteraient définitivement un chouille plus d'intérêt.<br /><br />
D'où ce petit post (pardon pour l'anglais, mais je fais aussi ça pour des sites anglais - et puis, de toutes façons, sur place, faudra causer english, ou avec les mains <img src="smileys/original.gif" alt=":)" class="smiley" /><br /><br /><br />
General windsurfing conditions in the Cyclads : great winds and waters !<br /><br />
the Wind :<br />
. full North, year long; occasionaly NW, you'll find multiple weather stats accross the web<br />
. strongest winds in July-August (60% of days over 4)<br />
. over 2 weeks (beg. August), I experienced 12 days of 6-7+ Beaufort (25-35 actual knots measured, gusts at 40+)<br /><br />
the Water :<br />
. crystal clear & sapphyre blue, you'll see sea bottom in 15-meter deep waters<br />
. in August, 25°C in the water, you'll be fine with a Lycra (if really cautious, bring along a shorty, but with 28-30° air, you'll be happy to do without)<br /><br />
the Islands : Paros seems to be better reknowned for windsurf (also offering Kite rentals). I sailed only on Mykonos, so that's what I'll expand about.<br /><br />
Spots in Mykonos :<br />
Mykonos offers numerous great beaches :<br />
. with multiple configurations (from the techno-sound-ridden Paradise to the hypish & equiped Psarou or the wild Mersini),<br />
. although only 3 are appropriate for windsurf (Ftelia, Kapari, Korfos), and only one with equipment rental (Kapari)<br />
. below are my comments on each spot : all have advantages, none is perfect, up to you.<br /><br />
. Ftelia : for the big guy !<br />
- Conditions : wave, onshore nice !; North-oriented, open to Meltemi<br />
- Location: North side of the island, at the bottom of Panormos Bay; Nearest village: Ano Mera<br />
- very peaceful and uncrowded beach; quite accessible from Chora<br />
- note : the fine-sand beach also includes large flat rocks below the shorebreak, so you'll be carefull when going into the water. Access from either end of the beach seem easiest<br /><br />
. Kalafati : windsurf for everybody <img src="smileys/original.gif" alt=":)" class="smiley" /><br />
- Conditions : beach oriented S/SE; flat to bump-and-jump and even wave, as you get out of the bay (very flat waters even by strong winds, 35+ knots) - a small peninsula closing the bay offers maximum security even for beginners<br />
- Wind : north as ever, nice, but highly gusty (hills), especially when the wind builds up<br />
- Location : south-east of the island; Nearest village: Ano Mera<br />
- note : bus from Mykonos Town - many amenities for your girlfriend, kids & other windsurf widows <img src="smileys/original.gif" alt=":)" class="smiley" /><br /><br />
. Korfos Bay (Megali Amos, Korfos) - watch the waste & enjoy <img src="smileys/original.gif" alt=":)" class="smiley" /><br />
- Conditions : a small Ftelia, oriented north, open to Meltem; maximum security (North), a bit less wind & waves than at Ftelia<br />
- note : water is crystal clear, but disgusting on Korfos beach (bottom of bay), full of plastic bags - you want to start upstream, from Megali Amos or one of the several landing spots on the W of the bay : from there you'll get wind, nice waves... and no pollution/bags.<br />
- Location: Very close to town, nearest beach to the south - Nearest village: Chora<br /><br />
. other beaches : Agios Iannis, Kapari, southern beaches (Psarou, Paradise, Lia...) are "non windsurfable" due to highly unstable conditions (gusty due to hills bordering the beaches)<br />
To be visited still : the loud music played on the beach or in the surrounding disco will keep you occupied throughout the night, if you are of the clubbers' kind !<br /><br />
Enjoy <img src="smileys/original.gif" alt=":)" class="smiley" /> Bon vent...
en fait, j'avais cherché & trouvé très peu d'info sur les spots (Cyclades, Mykonos) sur le web avant de partir, et les Cyclades mériteraient définitivement un chouille plus d'intérêt.<br /><br />
D'où ce petit post (pardon pour l'anglais, mais je fais aussi ça pour des sites anglais - et puis, de toutes façons, sur place, faudra causer english, ou avec les mains <img src="smileys/original.gif" alt=":)" class="smiley" /><br /><br /><br />
General windsurfing conditions in the Cyclads : great winds and waters !<br /><br />
the Wind :<br />
. full North, year long; occasionaly NW, you'll find multiple weather stats accross the web<br />
. strongest winds in July-August (60% of days over 4)<br />
. over 2 weeks (beg. August), I experienced 12 days of 6-7+ Beaufort (25-35 actual knots measured, gusts at 40+)<br /><br />
the Water :<br />
. crystal clear & sapphyre blue, you'll see sea bottom in 15-meter deep waters<br />
. in August, 25°C in the water, you'll be fine with a Lycra (if really cautious, bring along a shorty, but with 28-30° air, you'll be happy to do without)<br /><br />
the Islands : Paros seems to be better reknowned for windsurf (also offering Kite rentals). I sailed only on Mykonos, so that's what I'll expand about.<br /><br />
Spots in Mykonos :<br />
Mykonos offers numerous great beaches :<br />
. with multiple configurations (from the techno-sound-ridden Paradise to the hypish & equiped Psarou or the wild Mersini),<br />
. although only 3 are appropriate for windsurf (Ftelia, Kapari, Korfos), and only one with equipment rental (Kapari)<br />
. below are my comments on each spot : all have advantages, none is perfect, up to you.<br /><br />
. Ftelia : for the big guy !<br />
- Conditions : wave, onshore nice !; North-oriented, open to Meltemi<br />
- Location: North side of the island, at the bottom of Panormos Bay; Nearest village: Ano Mera<br />
- very peaceful and uncrowded beach; quite accessible from Chora<br />
- note : the fine-sand beach also includes large flat rocks below the shorebreak, so you'll be carefull when going into the water. Access from either end of the beach seem easiest<br /><br />
. Kalafati : windsurf for everybody <img src="smileys/original.gif" alt=":)" class="smiley" /><br />
- Conditions : beach oriented S/SE; flat to bump-and-jump and even wave, as you get out of the bay (very flat waters even by strong winds, 35+ knots) - a small peninsula closing the bay offers maximum security even for beginners<br />
- Wind : north as ever, nice, but highly gusty (hills), especially when the wind builds up<br />
- Location : south-east of the island; Nearest village: Ano Mera<br />
- note : bus from Mykonos Town - many amenities for your girlfriend, kids & other windsurf widows <img src="smileys/original.gif" alt=":)" class="smiley" /><br /><br />
. Korfos Bay (Megali Amos, Korfos) - watch the waste & enjoy <img src="smileys/original.gif" alt=":)" class="smiley" /><br />
- Conditions : a small Ftelia, oriented north, open to Meltem; maximum security (North), a bit less wind & waves than at Ftelia<br />
- note : water is crystal clear, but disgusting on Korfos beach (bottom of bay), full of plastic bags - you want to start upstream, from Megali Amos or one of the several landing spots on the W of the bay : from there you'll get wind, nice waves... and no pollution/bags.<br />
- Location: Very close to town, nearest beach to the south - Nearest village: Chora<br /><br />
. other beaches : Agios Iannis, Kapari, southern beaches (Psarou, Paradise, Lia...) are "non windsurfable" due to highly unstable conditions (gusty due to hills bordering the beaches)<br />
To be visited still : the loud music played on the beach or in the surrounding disco will keep you occupied throughout the night, if you are of the clubbers' kind !<br /><br />
Enjoy <img src="smileys/original.gif" alt=":)" class="smiley" /> Bon vent...