Fact File

How To Get There

There are many charter & schedule flights to Sharm el Sheikh. From there the transfer is about one hour by transfer bus which can also transport your kit if required.

The centre has since 2007 been taken over and completely updated by Oceansource.net who can be contacted direct on  1243 374615  for all-inclusive ground packages. Flight-only prices vary between £250 – £500 and can be booked direct with the following airlines:

Easyjet – www.easyjet.com
First Choice – www.firstchoice.co.uk
Thomson – www.thomsonfly.com
Thomas Cook – www.thomascook.com
Air France – www.airfrance.com
Alitalia – www.alitalia.com
British Airways – www.ba.com

How The Wind Works

The wind is thermal and the peak windy times are between May and November, but the wind stats show that this is a good all-year-round venue.

The wind is cross-off where you launch from the windsurf centre. It increases during late morning, with early afternoon being the strongest and then it decreases a force or two by mid/late afternoon.

The Sailing Spots

There is not much tide and the launch is from a sandy beach. With the wind being cross-off the water is very flat inside the bay. If you want more bump & jump then you can sail out to the swell outside the bay. However, please note that the wind can be slightly different strength outside the bay, sometimes stronger, sometimes a little less, but generally a lot more stable. It will take you a couple of upwind runs to get back to the centre from the bump & jump area.

The Wave Beach

You can get a taxi (ie. a pick up truck) which will drive you 1-2km up the road to the wave beach. Again it is a sandy launch with the waves cross-on, starboard tack rather like the south coast of the UK (think West Wittering). The waves build with the wind, so later in the day they can be better although its worth noting the wind is usually at its best between 10am-3pm, so you don’t want to wait too late! You can either sail back to the centre or get the taxi back. Be sure to get the correct route out if you’re sailing back as there is a reef following the shoreline on the way back to the centre, easy when you know where it is but for first timers always get local advice before you go.

Instruction And Kit Hire

There are two windsurf centres (one British, one Russian) and one kitesurfing school attached to the Russian centre. The British centre has RRD boards, covering a range of Wave, freestyle wave, freestyle and freeride boards The sails are Severne, Ezzy and Tushingham, with sizes from 3.5- 8m, all rigged on skinny’s or 75% carbon SDM’s. There is rescue cover and a look out at all times. Instruction is from Centre Managers Phil, Danielle and the other European staff. You can also go on a clinic in El Tur, with many of the pro coaches choosing it as a location to run their courses.

Taking your own kit

The centre is well stocked so there really isn’t any need to bring your own gear. However, should you feel the need to do so, then we would recommend boards between 85-110 ltr and sail sizes between 4.0-6.0m.

Accommodation

This is at the Moses Bay Hotel. The windsurf centre is located within the grounds.

The hotel is basic but all 56 rooms have air conditioning, satellite TV, showers and fridges, for those cold beers!!

A new hotel is set to open shortly at the wave beach which is expected to be of a higher standard and consist of 24 detached suites (photo left of work in progress). This hotel sits right on the wave beach and will suit more advanced windsurfers and kitesurfers.

We were on half board; breakfasts consist of authentic Egyptian and Continental, evening meals are a buffet with selection of various Egyptian & European dishes.

Lunch can be ordered from the beach bar at the windsurf centre for around £4. There are no other restaurants in the area. other than in town

Nightlife

Make your own! However, if there are any Polish staying in the hotel you are assured of a party! If you do want some organised night life, head to Sharm el Sheikh, an hour away.

Alternatively, El Tur town centre offers a true Egyptian experience untouched my tourism where you can eat delicious fresh seafood, kebabs, falafils all rinsed down with a local cup of tea and a shisha without ever feeling intimidated or short-changed.

Bored Of Windsurfing

The centre has some SUPs for rent and there is good snorkeling available on the surprisingly impressive local reefs (no wind days only).

Activities further afield include sunrise at Mount Sinai, a Bedouin dinner in the desert, an evening or diving in Sharm el Sheikh or a visit to Egypt’s stunning National Park, Ras Mohammed.

All can be arranged through the Moses Bay Hotel.

Conclusion

A laid-back, bohemian windsurfing experience for those wanting to get away from mass tourism. Most of the windsurfers stay inside the harbour and close to the centre so it is rarely crowded. The wave beach is a great place to practice your onshore wave riding and jumps with very little tide and rip to worry about so staying upwind was not a problem.

This is fantastic venue offering so many various water states, with the conditions being on offer most of the year.