QLD
1064 posts
anyone been there for a windsurfing trip? any tips on what where and when would be great, thanks !
VIC
1509 posts
Went to the ClubMed at Noumea in March 7 years ago specifically as a sailing holiday. Got about 3 good sessions in 6 days, so actually had to spend some time with my wife and kids. I took a slalom board and a few sails, which in hindsight I wouldn't do again. The baggage handling gorillas put a nice ding in my board despite being in a well padded bag, and there was a good range of pretty new gear at ClubMed anyhow. Plus you didn't have to pay it. ClubMed was great with kids, as you could dump them in the kid's club and it wasn't too hard to find other stuff to do while waiting for the wind to come up.
Sailing was basically flat water in the lagoon, but there's probably some waves somewhere, but you might need some local knowledge. Best time to sail is between April and November when the trade winds kick in.
The locals recommend wearing some kind of footwear even wading in the shallows because there are stonefish around that could really stuff up your holiday.
QLD
1064 posts
thanks MikeyS
im looking at taking wife and kids for a trip next year, so will have to mix up family duties and windsurfing, ill check out the clubmed website.
thanks again
WA
255 posts
I went for 13 days to Club Med years ago. Sailed 11 days. Biggest sail used was 5.7. Took Slalom race gear. I raced with the locals most days doing figure 8 slalom. Did a big up wind down wind coast run. Flat water inside the lagoon and open ocean sailing further out. You can also sail around the islands of shore.
The club med gear was crap so took my own. Sounds like it might have changed now. The great thing about it is you can sail out front of the club, come in in your boardies for lunch then go straight back out. The family will have plenty to do.
I would think some free ride gear would be perfect.
Deano
QLD
1064 posts
excellent, thanks deano, yeah I reckon ill take my own gear, the location sounds good, right on the lagoon, thanks mate :)
VIC
1509 posts
If you are going to take you own gear, when you arrive, the Customs guy might ask you what you are going to do witht he gear. I guess if you told them "Duh, I'm gunna sell it here" they'll slug you for duties etc. Took me a little while to work out why he was asking. ClubMed has a bus (coach, sorry) that takes you straight from the airport, so carting gear is easy. and I was able to store stuff either in our room or in a cubpoard near the beach. Before we went I had phoned the person who was in charge of the windsurfing gear, but couldn't really get a good idea of the range and age of their equipment.
And if you go to ClubMed, take as much wine as you can from Aus. The stuff ther is crap, and the French don't snack between meals, so be prepared to stock up at breakfast and lunch!
NSW
36 posts
Don't worry too much about the Club Med there, its long gone. A victim of 9/11. This whole beach is called Anse Vata and is where most of the windsurfing action is happening. There is a hire place called Plage Loisir but their gear was about 2 seasons old when I was there 3 years ago. You can store your stuff there if you BYO. Best season to sail is October to April with relatively constant trades blowing most afternoons. No need to bring a waveboard unless you want to do a lenghty boat trip to some of the reefs, which are more than 15 k's away from shore. I took a 91 lts FSW board and a 5.3 and 6.2 and that was about right. There is quite a large WS community, not unusual to see about 50 guys on the water. Its all freestyle and freeride. Once you go past the first island about one k from shore there is some good windswell to play but no breaking waves. Go further to the second island where the lighthouse isand you can blast over a truly beautiful lagoon. I found some small waves one day at the other end.
The food there is excellent but grog and eating out is quite expensive. SO if you are intending to stay at one of the hotels, make sure you get some meal deal and hit the dutyfree shop on your way over. Most hotels appeared to me more like business hotels, mainly living of functions and conventions rather than tourists. Its a shame the club med is gone, as it was ideal for a windsurfing family holiday. The only true holiday hotel is the Meridien, next to where Club Med was but it costs a fortune. Oh yeah and lots of hotlooking chicks with swimsuits you would normally see at the Mardi Gras in Sydney. Make sure you take some dark sunglasses along.
QLD
1064 posts
thanks Cheer Cheer
sounds great!
NSW
11 posts
Hi there,
I grew up in New-Caledonia and started windsurfing there almost 30 years ago. I was back there on holidays for Xmas. Out of 15 days, we had 10 days of 25 knots, there is this special wind called alizee that blows mostly in summer, starts at around 10-11am till 5-6pm and is very steady.
I must say it's probably one of the best spots on the planet to do non-wave windsurfing, it's the largest lagoon in the world and you go for runs for miles, you can also go to a very small island called Ilot Maitre (takes 15 minutes sail from the Anse Vata) where there is an area of around 1 km with only 1 metre of water over the sand so it's VERY flat!
If you don't want to take your gear, you can rent very decent equipment from my friend Laurent Gauzere who's running the Loft sails renting business at the Anse Vata, this guy absolutely rocks and his pricing is reasonable: around A$25 per hour. Good compromise if you're not planning to sail everyday, and believe me if the wind is like when I was there, you will not want to, too hard!
More info please ask!
Cheers,
Jean-Marc
PS: Club Med doesn't exist anymore.
NSW
304 posts
Air New Caladonia used to carry ws equipment for nothing.
It might pay to take your own gear.
