RHODES
RHODES – General skills
Ialysos in the north of Rhodes is both an excellent windsurfing spot AND holiday destination. The hotel lies right on the beach within easy reach of local shops and bars . And the town of Rhodes is just 15 minutes away.
Given the choice of staging the clinics in Prasonisi in the south or Ialysos, I favoured the latter because it’s equally windy but there’s a lot more going on. There’s a great local vibe and a host of tavernas close by.
Conditions
Light morning breezes, ideal for skills training, give way to force 4-6 side-shore thermals in the afternoon. If it’s sunny, it’s usually windy. The water is waist to chest deep within 50 m of the shore. Conditions are so good for learning all the classic skills, waterstarts, early planing, gybes and all the fancy stuff (there are some excellent jumping conditions further out).
The Kit
We rent from the ProCentre right on site. Never have you seen a centre with so much kit in such good condition. You have the latest from Fanatic, North, Tabou and Gaastra.
The Clinic
To coach and improve, Ialysos offers the perfect arena and timetable. The light wind mornings give us a chance to address issues noticed during the video review. We can practice relevant skills on big boards and small sails before trying them again for real as the wind gets up in the afternoon. And with the wind blowing right in to the beach – it’s easy to come in and get feedback.
Accommodation
The Blue Horizon is a 4 star hotel right on site with a great pool and everything and a punishing schedule of optional activities (including the ever popular aquaerobics).
Couples especially tend to favour the bungalow rooms, which face straight out onto the sea and the sailing area. They have their own small gardens – great for video reviews and cocktail parties!
What else to do?
Swimming, great sight seeing. Rhodes is a big island steeped in epic history.
Suggested minimum standard: planing in the harness on a sub 130 ltr board.
Get a feeling for the place and the sailing by watching:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHmU6RReP8A