|
And I was – sort of – lucky. After a couple of days, a pattern with easterly winds popped up, not very strong, but enough to rise hope. And the wind materialized and allowed me a windsurf session – onshore and with just enough wind, but with chest high waves and still very warm water and therefore good enough to reanimate my wavesailing reflexes and train some muscles – and in the morning after a longboard surf session in the dying swell at Saint Aygulf. It would have been pathetic sessions almost anywhere else but in this area you have to take what you get.
A couple of calm autumn days followed before it became windy again. This time it was the Mistral and it was blowing offshore or side-offshore at most beaches around Saint Tropez. The weather was very fine with bright sunshine and the Med was covered with myriads of whitecaps and I couldn´t resist. So I drove to the Plage d´ Embarquement near Gigaro. They have a nice bar right at the beach there where I could leave my family without qualms. Despite the protection from the mountains in the hinterland the wind was blowing very hard here. Though, as it was side-offshore it was very gusty.
I rigged up the 4.5 sail and went out. It was a weird sailing session. During the gusts the 4,5 sail was way too big. With the abrupt ends of the gusts there was no wind at all. I ended up having to swim back to the beach and was not pleased at all and very much confirmed in my dislike of the area. Loads of wind and sunshine but nothing you can do with it.
continue >>>
|
