Every year in December, January and February a lot of Europeans are moving to Cape Town, South Africa. The reason? Wind, waves and it’s cheap! A lot of people are flying with LTU from Dusseldorf (Germany) in 11 hours to the other side of the world. The warm weather and the famous ‘Table Mountain’ are making the South-East trades even stronger. The waves had a long way to go and a long way to grow. Nothing in their way before they crash on one of Cape Towns beaches. You need some experience or good friends to be on the right spot at the right moment because around Cape Town you can find a lot of windsurf spots. And if you have 20 knots at one spot, a few kilometers further it can be 10 knots. With the normal south-easter, on all spots the wind is from the left if you sail out. Some side-off, some side-shore spots.

In January I went to Cape Town for 25 days, it was my 3rd time there. The south-easter was not a strong as last year. The only thing I could remember from last year was 4,0 or 4,5 overpowered! This year I used my Legend 4,5 (normal powered) most of the time, couple of times the Legend 5,0 and 2 times the Loco 5,6. I didn't had the opportunity to try the 2007 stuff in Holland before I went of to Cape Town. Once sailing there with the new sails and new boom I was pretty amazed! The Legend still had the amazing soft feeling like the 2006 model, but it seems like the range of use was even bigger. I also liked the bigger monofilm panel, so I have more visibility (when looking for other windsurfers or looking where to make that cut-back). Most amazing however, was the difference between my old Fiberspar Posi Grip boom and my new MauiSails Carbon Wave boom! The MauiSails boom is so light and stiff! Unbelievable!

We had some good sessions at Sunset with up to 4m waves. At Sunset the wind is side-off shore and is gusty near the beach. The wave breaks fast. Three bottom turns max, but amazing opportunities for all sorts of aerials! This years favourite. GOITER! When Sunset is getting too windy it is time to de-rig, get some food and drive to Big Bay which is 10 minutes from Sunset. At sunset the wind is side-shore. The wave is not breaking as hollow and fast as Sunset. A perfect place for sky high jumping. I always like to be there on time. Before the wind gets to much and before it is getting too crowdy.. Yes, they call it BIG Bay, but actually it is a kind of small bay and it can get crowded! If you wanna get away from the crowd, try Melkbos. A spot where you can have it all. Good jumping and wave riding.

If you prefer flat water. There are a few opportunities. The easiest one is 'Rietvlei'. A fresh water lake just behind Sunset. Perfect windsurfing when it is not windy enough to sail in the waves, or when you just prefer the flat water! Don't worry if you see some guys (and chics!) spinning around like crazy.. Europe's hottest freestylers are sailing here daily! I always like to freestyle a bit in the morning before driving to Big Bay for the waves. No wind around cape town. Get in the car and drive! Drive to the Cape Point.. Take all your (wave) boards and sails with you, because you never know what you can get! Or drive one hour in the other direction and you will see a big saltwater lake. Langebaan. Perfect for freestyle, freeride and racing.

Don't forget. As long as you drive, it is never a lost day! South Africa is a beautiful country which has a lot to offer on land and in the water! We drove 3000KM in 4 weeks and I sailed 20 days from 25... and that's what they call a bad season...

A lot more pictures and stories on www.teamthebunch.com

See you on the water,
Niek.