Boa Vista - Windsurf Centre - Boa Vista, Cape Verde Islands

The Boa Vista windsurf centre is located on the beautiful Sal Rei Beach and is the nearest windsurfing centre to Sal Rei town, a short walk away. Rental and instruction packages are available using Goya and Quatro windsurf boards. The centre is approximately a 5 to 10 minute walk from our featured properties and 15 minutes from the airport, set directly on the beach. Also available are surfing, stand up paddle boarding (SUP) and kitesurfing with access to a range of flat water and light wave conditions.

Open November - Mid April.

Location
The centre is location just outside of the town of Sal Rei and is a short 5 minute walk from our featured properties. It is approximately 15 minutes transfer from the airport. The area offers great flat water and wave sailing locations with no shorebreak. The beach is stunning, very clean and not far off pure white sand.


Sailing Spot and Conditions
There are 3 main sailing sports accessible from the centre. Directly in front, between the centre and the small off shore island, is sheltered so good for beginners and free styling as it is relatively flat. To the right of the centre is the area called Funana which is a wave spot. The waves are funnelled between the Port and the Island which can provide a good size clean swell and is more suitable for advanced riders. The most suitable area on Boa Vista for beginners and those progressing is to the right of the centre upwind and early in the morning. When launching from beach you will need to keep to the right as there is a small reef to the left. There is no shore break in front of the centre, unlike other spots, as it is sheltered by island.To the left of the centre is Turtle Bay which is a perfect surfing wave spot.


Facilities
The centre is run by experienced, professional European staff with VDWS and IKO qualifications for teaching. There is a good restaurant right next door open during the day with bar.


Services
For windsurfers full rental and instruction service with a wide choice of the latest Fanatic boards and North sails. A boat rescue service is on stand by if needed. Private Storage is available for those with their own equipment at an additional charge. (This is required to be booked in advance to guarantee availability.) Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) and surfing are available and the centre provides tuition and rental. The centre also offers SUP sundowners, island and BBQ tours. Other activities available include quad tours and rental, diving, boat and snorkel trips to local reefs away from the main sailing bay area, half day or day island tour with pick-up to the famous island spots (Praia do Chavez, Praia de Santa Monica, Deserto de Viana, Moro Negro, and many others), whale watching and fishing trips.
 

Kit Range

Latest windsurfing equipment from Goya and Quatro boards and Severn rigs. Approximately 25 boards and 32 rigs (3.7-8.5m²).

Choose between Freeride, Freerace and Freeride models. There are still some older Fanatic and Starboard boards available on request. Sails are from Goya range with Wave, Freestyle Wave and Freeride all 100% full carbon. North Sails. Freerace Slalom Foil boards now available with Slingshot Foil available with or without foil. Beginner boards from Goya for use with lessons 220, 260l. Sails are new from Goya with 70% RDM/skinny mastsPlus approximately 10 SUP boards in different sizes from Fanatic and Quatro.

Surf boards from Duotone: Pro Whip CSC 5'0, 5'2" and Nugget CSC 5'0".

Stand Up Paddle boards: approx. 10 boards in different sizes from Quatro: 8'2", 8'8", 8'10", 9'6" and 10'2". The Quatro Power 8'2" (110l) board is for experts only and not included in the weekly rental rate but can only be booked locally for a surcharge on the spot dependent on ability. 3 x Fanatic Fly 10'6".

Kitesuring equipment from Duotone and Slingshot. More >

 

Rental

Discounts

Low Season - 20% Discount.

Partner Share - share your equipment with your partner and the 2nd person only pays an additional 25%.

Combi Rental Windsurf & Kitesurf - discounted rates are offered when renting two types of sports equipment. Call for details.

Families  Families with children up to 3 years, can share one set of equipment alternately at no extra cost.

Kids (up to and including 15 yrs) Children renting their own set of windsurfing equipment (excluding accessories) receive 30% discount.
 

Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP)

The centre offers 12 SUP Boards in different sizes from the Fanatic and Quatro range.

Tuition

Windsurfing Tuition: Taster, Beginner, Step by Step & Private VDWS instruction.

Equipment is included in the Taster and beginner (including kids) lessons. Group lessons are usually 3 to 9 persons with 1 instructor.

Step by step (advanced) lessons cover manoeuvres such as gybe, fast tack, beach starts, harness, footstraps, planing, water starts and power gybes. Group lessons are usually 3 - 6 persons with 1 instructor.

If there are fewer  students, the course duration is reduced accordingly with additional equpment use given to practise.

Beginner Course

Day 1: Overview of how to use the equipment, and first basics of windsurfing such as going upwind and and downwind, turning and adjusting the sail. Later, you will go for the first time on the water. The aim of the first day is that you are able to ride independently.

Day 2: Revision of Day 1, focus on position and practice tacking (turn up the wind). The aim of the day is that you get back to your starting point back.

Day 3: Gybe, beach starts and practise with larger sails.

Days 4 & 5: Adapted to your personal goals.
 

Stand Up Paddle Boarding and Surfing Tuition

SUP Introduction Course If you have never paddled before but you would like to discover the stunning Bay of Sal Rei and the Island of Sal Rei this course is for you. The course includes a short introduction how to stand correctly on the board and some paddling techniques to help you stay on the board and paddle safely. After the introduction, you can explore the surrounding area independently. Duration about 2 hours.

SUP Wave Course  Experience the true fascination of stand-up paddling in the waves. Over two hours, you'll be shown how to get out on the waves and how to catch first
waves - an amazing feeling. Duration about 2 hours.

Private tuition:  2hr, 6hr and and 10hrs lessons for all levels. Equipment is included during the lessons.