Friday May 5
I was lucky to have an easy connection through Munich on my way to Morocco. My flights were relaxing and I started changing from city to windsurf mode.
I arrived in Marrakech and was greeted by a nice taxi driver who drove me the two+ hours to Moulay Bouzerktoune. There a tent city had been built on the beach for us to sleep in. Other tents and structures indicated that there was going to be a big event soon.
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| The taxi ride from Marrakech to Moulay Bouzerktoune |
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| A Fantasia "horse culture performance" fair setting up on our route in Had Draa |
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| I arrived at the beach to an international welcome! |
Saturday May 6
The next morning I hit snooze too often and actually only woke up because it got quiet when everyone headed up to the skippers meeting. Luckily I could register, get my lycra and pick out my rental gear before the first heats started.
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| Syncing my watch before my first heat |
My masters heat was also a short 17 minute adventure. JP and I were the only two 45-55 year olds (another was on his way) so we were out with the two grand masters Colby and Gerhart who I sailed with last year. I caught a wave, did a bottom turn, hit the nice lip on the wave and was a bit afraid of my ride in the serious whitewater. But instead of letting go in fear like I'd have done in the past, I held on and made it. (Later one of the judges noted that they actually have seen an improvement in my windsurfing - specifically thinking oh Carl's gonna let go - wait he held on!) I caught another wave toward the end of the heat and then sailed right back into shore with no drama.
It didn't take long to announce the results, JP had bested me just like he has in the half dozen or so heats we've had in the last two years.
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| Happy after my first heats |
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| JP Wins round one! |
Part of the tent city includes a pair of restaurants where I had a great 'salade compose'. I took Mat from Switzerland up to Lawama's where we watched a bit more of the contest from the nice balcony there. Then back to the beach to watch the last of the amateur, women's and pro finals.
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| View of the event site from Lawama's cliffside bar |
After cleaning up with quick hand held bucket showers, we all boarded buses for the 30 minute drive to Essaouira. Our first stop was the Cultural centre, where Boujmaa's efforts in creating this event were lauded by the dignitaries that were in attendance. By then, the very hungry riders and staff were ready for the hors d'oeuvres. Later, we headed to Taros for the opening party. My phone actually remembered the WiFi code from last year and I got my first emails. Back in the tent city we had a third bite of dinner, now much quieter under the full moon as electricity had been extended to the camp.
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| Headed to the opening ceremony! |
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| Opening ceremonies in town! |
Another nice sleep in. Only Tom (also from Toronto and whose name I knew well but had never met) slept longer than me. I headed out on a big 172l SUP and slowly got used to the conditions. I had several very nice wave rides on the big SUP. Lunch was wonderfully French at the well stocked Fanatic centre.
We had a lovely yoga session looking out onto the sun setting on the Pacific. The group ate a quiet dinner under the bright moon. I fell asleep listening to the organizers of the tent city playing their traditional instruments with the rest of the windsurfers slowing joining in and eventually finding their rhythm.
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| Yoga on the beach |
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| Dinner in the tent with a very international group of windsurfers |
There was a bus organized for us to go to Essaouira so 20 of us headed into town. Boujmaa gave us a tour. For lunch, he bought some fish at the dockside market and we headed to a restaurant where they cooked it for us.
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| Exploring the markets in Essaouria |
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| Windsurf world champion tourist in the fish market! |
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| The boats that caught our lunch |
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| The crew after the freshly prepared fish lunch |
I tried a few cafes for Internet and finally got connected to work and did the few minutes of tasks I needed to complete. I also looked at the photos from our family trip to Morocco from 20 years ago. It brought back many great memories. In many ways things remain very much the same here. What was indeed different is that when I suddenly wanted to share my memories with those back in Canada I could easily phone home and talk to my wonderful wife.
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| Laptop overlooking the harbour |
We headed back to Moulay on the bus with everyone showing off their purchases. There was another yoga session planned, this time the local kids joined in which made it very entertaining as they tried to be serious but inevitable giggles took over.
Tuesday May 9
Wow! I woke up earlier and in time for the beach cleanup that was planned to help raise awareness for the Trash Hero campaign.
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| Photo op after the trash hero beach cleanup |
I caught up on Facebook in the Hotel and then met up with Veronica and her tour group who had just returned from the desert. After a nice shower in the quaint Riad, we went to watch the sunset from a terrace overlooking the Atlantic. That was followed by a fun dinner complete with African 'trans' music. I ordered the lobster because the trip notes from 20 years ago said I'd enjoyed it back then. It was delicious again. I also got to know many of the people in her tour group who were all very nice.
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| My sister's tour group overlooking the sea and ready for dinner! |
The tour group set off from the hotel for a 3 hour walk through the streets and medinas of Essaouira. Even though I know my way around pretty well now, I discovered some of the exact spots we'd visited 20 years ago.
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| Exploring Essaouira with Veronica's tour group |
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| Surf's up is a theme in this town! |
In the afternoon my sister and I headed to the long sand windsurfing beach. I rented gear from Ion Surf and had an almost frustrating first hour. I went back out then for two more runs and then I finally started getting comfortable. Every time I came in, I would head out for one more ride. I caught some great waves and even had a party wave with JP. Two and a half hours later I finally came in. I met up with my buddy Chris from Maui board tests who had come to Morocco with friends. The set up reminded us of Bonaire. Just add camels (the real kind, but the Europeans were smoking there too!).
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| Heading down the French inspired shore-side toward the windsurfing centres |
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| Camels on the windsurfing beach! |
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| That's me on one of the many waves I caught out there. |
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| Coming in happy! |
After a very satisfying session Veronica and I walked back to her hotel and then went out for a wonderful French / Moroccan fusion dinner.
Thursday May 11
After a quick breakfast in the Riad in Essaouira I got into a petit taxi to go to the spot where the grand taxis are. But my driver had an idea to have his friend take me. I got a bit anxious when we headed the wrong direction and stopped at the back of a building way at the edge of town. But the petit taxi driver eventually found the grand taxi he'd called and we headed to Moulay.
I got there just in time to hear that we were going to run more amateur heats in the relatively good south wind. My first heat was against JP for the masters double elimination and I barely caught one wave. I was definitely struggling but at least got back to the beach OK. My next heat was a free pass as a few of the amateurs did not show up for the double elimination. Apparently many of the local amateurs didn't like the unusual port tack conditions. Then I was up against JP again and Stephano. This time I caught 3 waves but barely rode them and wasn't surprised to come in 3rd. My amateur heats were over but I cheered JP who won 5 straight heats.
Later in the afternoon I took on the role of beach marshal to try and keep the recreational windsurfers out of the competition area. It worked pretty well and for one heat only the two finalists were on the water. That made things much easier for the judges.
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| Carl as beach marshal! (flight director) |
We all headed to Lawama's which was super busy. I checked out the accommodations at Tatanga, and will be looking at the place next time.... After another fun dinner talking about awesome things like windsurfing Jaws with one of the first women to do it, I headed to bed and had another good sleep in the tent.
Friday May 12
We got up this morning knowing that it would be a strange media day. No wind, but the photo crews from France and Morocco wanted beach scenes. So we got on tour buses and headed into Essaouira.
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| The beach side hotel I stayed at 20 years ago - still there for fancy tourists! |
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| Beach media |
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| Boujmaa and Tom Soltysiak entertained us with tow in windsurfing |
After a ride back to the tent city and a nice photo opportunity for Tom and me at the IWT road sign, we headed to a nice Friday night party at 'beach and friends'.
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| Canadian photo op on the road to Moulay! |
There was wind building slowly from the correct direction as predicted so head judge Duncan started the heats at 12:30. It was rotating through pros and women and youth so I was put on beach marshal duty. I had fun helping Tom and Ben who were doing the colour commentary on the PA system. I also worked to try and figure out what sails the local kids were on.
In the midst of this, I was happy to see my sister arrive from Marrakech. Her bus was late getting to Essaouira but she had met up with the driver that Boujmaa had very nicely arranged for her. Yes, Bouj was running EVERYthing and doing an amazing job.
There was a mix-up on one of the women\'s results which was sad for the ladies and frustrating for me. Tom sailed his last amateur heat against local Yves and kept his 2nd place.
We watched the women's final then the Pro men. Yes, Bouj was still doing a million things at once; running the event, arranging taxis and picking up litter, but would still go on to win the Pro double elimination against Kevin Pritchard. Wow.
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| Boujmaa - the winner of the Pro event! |
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| Ready for my final heat - nice to have my sister cheering and taking pictures! |
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| Oh cr&p, my universal is busted |
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| Soufian to the rescue |
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| Soufian helping me with his universal |
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| The Masters / Grand Masters ready to go |
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| Heading out for the Master / Grand Master final heat |
The event was now complete and I finally had enough wind to waterstart consistently and enjoyed some great free sailing in the waves. It was crowded but it felt like I knew most of the people in the water. I even got planing a few times and kept upwind OK. I got my best waves of the week and returned to shore with a big grin.
I packed up and we headed to the closing party. I'd booked a Riad (hotel) right next to the Ocean Vagabond so it was easy to drop our bags and still make it to the awards ceremony in time to pick up my 2nd place trophy! I was great to see Boujmaa taking the first place Pro prize. He deserved it!
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| The Masters podium - I was thrilled with 2nd! |
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| Event results: 2nd in masters, 17th in Amateur simply because I showed up for all my heats! |
The party had a super warm feeling and there were a lot of Moroccan officials to thank in the speeches. We all slowly said our goodbyes. I hadn't drunk all week but bought a few bottles of the organic wine with the Boujmaa labels. Maybe I'll import some for the Toronto Windsurf Club events.
My sister and I went back to the hotel and got our bags ready for the next morning and reflected on the wonderful closing day of the event.
Sunday May 14th
Hotel, taxi, plane, car, visit my nephew in Germany, car, hotel, plane and taxi. Back to reality.
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| All smiles for the event video (timestamp :032)! |
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