Just back from the 2008 RRD product release in Mauritius. My first trip there and a real eye opener.
Roberto and team brought the new TYPE 9 prototype and some HYPERTYPE prototypes too [See in GEAR REVIEWS, John Geyer has demo kites 7m 9m and 12m at SOS for anyone interested in what 2008 holds].
The weather co-operated with a good variety of wind speeds up to 30kts. The swell was too big for Manoa and One Eye all but a couple of days but there was lots of action on the inside reef breaks.
The One Eye area of Mauritius is a crazily heavy place when the swell gets up. The entire Indian ocean seems to want to pour over the reef and rips coming from east and west meet to suck the entire lagoon through a 200m wide reef pass that just churns with standing and breaking waves every where. The inside looks tame but even a 1-2 kt current is pulling you out.
The rescue boats were unable to get out through the channel as the swell was closing it out. A lot of guys were towed back in against the current by fellow kiters or windsurfers when they couldn't relaunch. The current sucks water from the entire lagoon so all floating objects have one destination. The army rescue helicopter was called and pulled out one guy [riding a north Kite] who had fallen on the inside and got sucked out throught the Manoa reef pass. They were a long time looking for him and he was at least a couple of Ks out when they found him, so pretty heavy stuff, however nobody drowned.
Memorably there was a 5m+ swell the day we arrived and we could see some guys including Felix drawing speed lines on 25-30 foot closeout faces at 'one eye'. I was humbled. The wind dropped out and they were all been blow out on the offshore breeze and we could all see ther little kites frantically bobbing up and down as they went further and further out. They were all beyond rescue and even the helicopter would not have got them all as it was starting to get dark, but then the wind filled in about a half an hour later and unbelievably they all got in. Way too heavy for me!!
Weirdly you could watch all this from standing beside the 'Indian resort's' swimming pool where fat tourists worked on there tans completely oblivious to all the drama.
The swell did drop sufficently one day to allow us out to 'Manoa' Then 'inside Manoa', which is normally really offshore on the face, lined up 4-6' perfectly side to just side off with with top to bottom pitching 100m rides. Without doubt the most perfect performance wave I have ever kited. I will be back. Kiting there with mates to help out is definitely a good idea as i found out when i snapped a line and had to be towed the kilometer against the current by a polish guy called Christian, and Neal Gent [UK ] saved my kite. Thanks again guys.
We were there as well. Felix and the Airush crew were pretty amazing heading out in freakin heavy offshore conditions. In humoungous waves and fickle wind it was incredible to watch Felix head out on a 7.5m Generator with fixed lines/no chicken loop and ride these monster faces unhooked. By the by, they were all picked up by boat offshore all days (except maybe one) I think. On the biggest day, there was a whole peanut gallery set up along the beach wondering if they were ever coming back in and eventually this 6m speed boat turns up from out the back with a couple of the Airush crew and a chick who had gotten swept out the back. A set of kahunas on whoever chose to drive that thing offshore in those conditions. We were told by their Coast Guard one day that we weren't allowed to kite as conditions were too heavy and any rescue was impossible.
Hey Niall, I think I may have offered you a tow at one stage when you were swimming in with your board (presumably after the broken line not too far from shore). Although there were quite a few downed kites in various stages of difficulty over the few days.
Nice place, but it seemed a bit temperamental. Either there was no wind or no swell or too much swell. Once the swell jacks up then it creates this massive current (up to 10 knots apparently) that sweeps out the pass, thus making the main surfing breaks a fairly daunting option when rescue is hit and miss. As far as One Eye goes, it is really really offshore and heavy. It looks like a great option if the wind was steady and the wave was of a sane size, but on anything but perfect conditions you would definately want a standby rescue team. The pros who were riding the wave were regularly picked up by boat when the wind died off (or things went pear shaped). All in all it was amazing to watch some pretty dedicated talent ripping it up in what can only be described as serious conditions. Still, unless you had time or a support team or lucked into great conditions then I would prefer to head somewhere less hit and miss next time.
We spend a week on Rodrigues and a week at Le Morne. Rodrigues was pretty awsome. Lots of steady wind and lots of good kitesurfing options. A much more mellow place compared to Le Morne. Basically the kitesuring resort (Mourouk Ebony) is right on the lagoon, so you can kite right off your banana lounge after finishing your pina colada. Unfortunately, it is pretty much mostly flat water. There is some bump and jump stuff at an area called the skate park. The wave stuff requires a boat and conditions did not work during our stay there. The plus side is that the kite centre at the Mourouk is pretty awsome and Jerome who runs the place organises plenty of boat supported great downwinders and excursions for a super cheap price.
I was also there and would agree with everything Niall mentioned. This is one seriously dangerous spot when the swell is up. I would not recomend Le Morne for beginners unless you went right around the point into the lagoon. The pass itself had a current that was similar to a rapid heading out to sea with 3 foot high humps in it pretty spooky stuff- the couple of times I ventured out there. The 08 Type 9's for those interested are brilliant. Ads
So the Airush guys got a boat in after all. i cannot imagine who had the balls to take a boat out there unless it had come up from Tamarind Bay [which was apparently an all time perfect 6-8" that day].
I dont think however the Mauritius tourism board would be exactly delighted that we are broadcasting the danger at Le Morne to the world on the internet, but its important that people are aware of teh danger as it seems such a long way out and the area that sucks out cam seem so calm and safe. There is a Club mistral on the beach with windsufferers of all stages learning within meters of the reef pass suck out. They have actually LOST [as in NEVER found dead or alive] 4 or 5 windsurfers over the years i was told!!
The lagoon around the East side of the Le Morne peninsula is really safe and wide with beautiful clear and flat water only a couple of meters deep with insane colours by the way, and we had a less experienced kiter with our party who had a ball there, so its a great place for a group of mixed ability levels.
Great pics of Rodriguez too Simon - it's definitely on my list.
Zola, where did you get your kite cam? I've been looking for one for ages but they're either too heavy or too low res for 25m away! Is it a 'pro-only' piece kit or can you buy them in the shops?
The kite cam is homemade with 7M resolution. Its really light so doesn’t affect the kite performance. It takes really flattering shots - see kiteworld mag issue 26. Perhaps I should start manufacture!
you really jammed it getting your pic full page in kiteworld with that kite cam. Drop around the house and give me a look [I think I will be trying to talk u into lending it].
Yes the new RRD type 9 does have a batwing look with the scalloped back edge that is supposed to reduce flutter and drag. It looks cool in any case. The new hypertype's will have the same leach, the main difference will be a tip size with a concentration on turning speed in the Type 9. My advice is call in on John and Andy and put your name on the demo list for the next windy day, youll love it. The new 2008 kites come ot July or August I think. Some new RRD sandwich surfboards that look the biz for kiters and some incredibly well made twintips will also be coming in.
