This Page About Windsurfing Holidays Wales UK

Windsurfing Holidays Wales UK

Situated within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is the idyllic coastal village of Dale. A mile wide bay renders Dale one of Britain's best watersports venues, an ideal location for those with a sense of adventure and an eagerness to get out on the water. West Wales Windsurf and Sail located on the waterfront provides equipment and expert tuition for the beginner. On a brisk November morning our guinea pig Jane Mayglothling, aged 31, a solicitor from Hereford and mum of two, (Tess aged three and Louis one), was going to attempt windsurfing.

Over a steaming mug of coffee in the cafe, a converted boathouse overlooking the bay I asked Jane what was her motivation to try this sport. "With a family to look after it's hard to make time for yourself, every now and then I want a challenge and why not windsurfing. I had a taster 8 years ago whilst on holiday in the Dominican Republic and I had promised myself I would do it again, but you know how life is you just don't get around to it. Though I was thinking about a summer's day clad in a bikini not November in a wet suit." Well it may not be a summer's day, but of course the sun was shining as Dale holds the sunshine record for Wales.

The watersports centre, Dale Sea Safari and the cafe is managed by Jane Bouldon, a lady with a lot of experience of these waters as she skippers a 42-foot yacht. She explained, "The sheltered bay is perfect for learning watersports and people of all ages can try windsurfing. Children from the age of eight can be taught as long as they are water confident, not necessarily able to swim as they are provided with a buoyancy aid." She then introduced us to Michael Jones who was going to be Jane's instructor. Michael aged 20 was a member of the Welsh sailing squad for 2 years and competed in events across the UK and Scotland. He said, "I moved to the area when I was about 10 from North Wales. I had no previous sailing experience so I took lessons and have never looked back." It was time to leave the warmth of the cafe and be enticed by the glistening blue water of the bay to make a start.

Michael took Jane through safety procedures then kitted her out with a 3-5 metre rig ideal for beginners and a Starboard start beginner board. Lessons began on a dry land simulator where you learn the basics - gybing and tacking, getting to grips with the wind direction and learning how to turn round and come back again. Jane stepped on precariously, Michael said, "The height of the boom which is attached to the mast should be between chest and shoulders, arms need to be straight so you can feel the tension on the sail and knees bent - the correct stance to take the pressure off your back. Also feet have to be kept on the centre line of the board to keep your balance." Jane was doing really well, her cheeks flushed with exertion, "When I began going through the motions on the simulator my previous experience started to come back. Compared to other activities there is not a lot to remember, doing it on dry land was quite simple, now all I have to do is get on the water and practice."

Emerging from the changing rooms Jane had been transformed into a slinky sea creature in a dry suit, gloves and rubber boots. A short walk across the road and down the slipway leads to the water. Michael accompanied Jane onto the water surfing along side her so she was able to follow his moves. Then Michael jumped into a small dinghy and trailed along beside her giving words of advice and encouragement. "The main point is to keep your feet on the centre of the board, keep the mast upright, don't pull to fiercely with the back hand as that puts too much power on the sail. Today that is particularly relevant as the wind is gusty." Jane began to sail up wind, the wind direction coming off the beach as you can't sail straight into the wind. Slowly you could see it all come together as Jane crossed the water.

It was not plain sailing by any means, but it is all part of the fun in learning a new sport. The dry suit was put to the test as Jane frequently went for a dip, but she always emerged smiling, clambering back on the board and ready for more. After a couple of hours sailing to and fro Jane was ready for a ride back to dry land, sitting on her board, cresting the waves towed behind Michael's dinghy.

After a hot shower I asked her about the experience. "Compared to my dry run, being on the water was more of a challenge, in the openness of the bay the wind is taking the board along and you are not looking where you are going as you are concentrating on balance. When Michael was on his board moving alongside me I could see what he was doing and as we sailed in the same direction this gave me some guidance. On water I also found it much harder to raise the mast, but I found it really helpful when he shouted instructions from the dinghy. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience especially on the few occasions when I was up as the momentum of moving across the water was exhilarating. It really is an adrenalin rush as you want to go faster and you are just willing the wind into the sail to see what you can achieve. As I finished all my strength had gone. I can now feel a strain on my arms, I put that down to pulling the mast up and holding the boom and of course levering myself back onto the board on the numerous occasions I fell into the water.

A morning's course was ample for a taster and I didn't feel the cold until returning to shore. From a beginners point of view there is not a lot of technical stuff to learn so you are able to go out on the water and have a go all within a few hours, putting the groundwork of the simulator into practice on the open water. Windsurfing can be learnt quickly so you feel as if you have achieved something in a short space of time. I do feel more confident and I'm sure if left alone for a couple of hours on the water I would certainly get the gist of windsurfing. It is an ideal sport to plan a taster session during holidays or a weekend away. And I know my family would enjoy the entertainment value watching mum falling in the water." Continue to learn more about windsurfing, please visit Activity Wales.

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