More Windsurfing in Dahab

Smiling in Dahab!  Video down below

After 4 days without wind, and even a very rare day of rain in Dahab, I got back out on a short board. I had actually done some light wind freestyle and stand up paddleboarding on the no wind days.  The kids took advantage of the wind lull and explored the beach and reefs snorkelling on a pedal boat.

I tried out a Mistral Joker 108 which is a nice freestyle board. With a 5.8, I got planing every run, and tried over 20 vulcans and an assortment of other tricks. My vulcans are sliding well, but I still don’t get my hands to the other side. The tide was high, which means that you can get planing and then beach start in either directions in the bay after a failed trick attempt. I was having fun comparing moves with Hafaz, one of the club Mistral staff members. Most of all it was great to be out sailing.

Don't think about sharks while waterstarting in the red sea

The Mistral centre, and the other centres on the beach (Harry Nass, Club Vass, Planet Windsurf and a few Russian rental outfits) are all well stocked. I like how they take the boom off and on each time, which I think keeps the gear in better shape. In the Club Vass centre, I met Colin who, as it turned out, knew two Canadian windsurfers and a Dutch pro that I know. What a small little windsurfing world.

Dahab is a very nice place. It is a bit of a bubble, the resorts and many international guests keep you a bit isolated from the actual country you are visiting, like in other resort towns. The vibe when you venture into the town of Dahab is a bit more eclectic, and worth a visit for a relaxed lunch and stroll down the paved beach boardwalk on a no wind day.

The resorts seemed busy but not packed, I wonder what impact the shark attack 100km away in Sharm-el-Shiekh has had on tourism, or if it is a delayed result of the economic downturn from 2008?





Dahab mast view from Canadian Guy on Vimeo.


Here are some more images: