Tobago 21-28 January 2025

Run By : Simon Winkley Windsurf and Wingfoil Clinics

Simon Winkley is heading to Tobago in 2025 to coach on these new windsurf and wing foil clinic weeks. Book one or both to improve your windsurfing or wing foil technique on the beautiful islands of Tobago, in the Caribbean.

Tobago is the perfect location for those windsurfers who are learning or planing and in the harness. It is also ideal for those just up on the foil to improve your wing foiling skills, with it's sandy lagoon, of flat water, in the picturesque national heritage park, Pidgeon Point on the beautiful Caribbean island of Tobago. These clinic weeks are designed to improve your techniques with coaching from one of the top UK and RYA professional coaches, Simon Winkley. Staying in a comfortable 3* hotel with daily to and from the centre and beach. All rental equipment is included and daily coaching provided by Simon Winkley.


Simon Winkley - Professional UK Windsurf and Wingfoil Coach

Simon brings over 20 years professional experience and is a UK Team Rider for Starboard, Severne and Freewing. A specialist in instructor training, he is highly qualified as a RYA Advanced Windsurfing Trainer and Wingfoil Trainer and has written many technique articles for Windsurfing UK Magazine. Simon runs a wingfoiling school and coaches at Queen Mary Sailing Club, Surrey and at The Official Test Centre in Portland Harbour, Weymouth in the UK.


Simon Winkley Clinic Locations

Simon’s Sportif clinics currently take place in Sotavento in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands (windsurfing) and in Prasonisi on the Greek Island of Rhodes (windsurfing and wingfoiling) and now Tobago in the Caribean for these new windsurfing and wingfoil weeks. These locations have been specially selected to provide a solid learning platform in warm water with the best prospect of reliable winds. These clinics are ideal for regular and occasional participants as well as those who have been away from their sport for a while and want to be guided back into it feeling confident on modern equipment.

What's Covered in a Simon Winkley Clinic?

Simon will host a mixed group of intermediate and advanced windsurfers or intermediate wingfoilers, tailoring the coaching to suit the exact needs of the group. Simon will coach from the water, from the beach and using video footage and photography (drone footage is available locally in Sotavento and Prasonisi for an additional cost).

Quickly gaining the trust of the client, understanding their needs and forming close and effective working relationships are some of key factors that guide Simon's thoughts and actions as a coach.

He will use his expertise in windsurfing and wingfoiling to improve performance whilst keeping the delivery fun and enjoyable. He knows how to use the very smallest detail to create breakthrough moments in someone's journey. Expect to work as hard or as gently as you like on the water and to enjoy relaxing socials in the evenings.

Key focus areas - Windsurfing

• Kit selection, set up and tuning tips.
• Harness, foot straps, getting going.
• Planing and control at speed.
• Beach starts-water starts including variations.
• Faster tacks, heli-tacks.
• Non-planing gybes, carve gybes plus variants.
• More advanced carving skills.
• Simple, fun freestyle (to support other core moves).
• Chop-hops and jumps (if conditions are right).
• Relevant snippets of theory to enhance practical understanding and confidence building at every turn!

Key focus areas - Wing foiling

• Kit selection, set up and tuning tips.
• Getting up on the foil early, pumping the board and wing.
• Foiling control and turns at speed.
• Foiling and non foiling tacks and gybes.
• Foot changes and use of foot straps (optional).
• Sailing toeside (switched stance).
• Use of harness and setup of harness lines (optional).
• Relevant snippets of theory to enhance practical understanding plus confidence building at every turn!
 

Level Required

The Simon Winkley Clinics will host a mixed group of intermediate and advanced windsurfers or intermediate wing foilers looking to up their game, whilst having a great time on and off the water. That means no beginners or aerial freestylers and a focus on real-world core skills.

Your Journey Starts Now

This is fully-supported, social, holiday windsurfing/wingfoiling at its best. Get in touch with Sportif to start your journey now with a Simon Winkley windsurf or wingfoil pro-clinic.

www.simonwinkley.com

The Conditions

On a good day, mainly from December through to June, the conditions are some of the finest in the Caribbean. The windsurfing launch is from the Pigeon Point National park.   it is protected by Bucco Reef which lies up to one and half miles off one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Inside the vast lagoon, the flat, crystal clear, shallow water is a sailor's dream. Outside the reef there is some chop. The wind is steady side shore from the left making it easy to tack out and return.


The Centre

Located on an idyllic white sand beach, with swaying palms and cooling steady trade breezes, this is Caribbean paradise. The centre provides the latest boards with a range of sizes and sails. It is minutes to walk across the sand to launch. As a protected national park, Pidgeon Point has no hotels - just palm trees and a bar serving refreshing drinks and snacks. At the end of the day it’s all about relaxing over a cocktail and watching the sunset.
 

Here's our review on the facilities and tips for travel to Tobago:

Shepherds Inn, Tobago >
Toucan Inn is a privately owned, stylish boutique lodge in Crowne Point Tobago. Just 5 minutes'  drive from the windsurfing and wing foil centre at Pidgeon Point. Here you can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere with private pool, cabana accommodation set round the pool or in the private gardens. Breakfast is included. Formerly known as the Toucan Inn and Bonkers Bar, the bar and restaurant are a perfect choice for dinner or drinks. More >


The Social
The centre and is set on the idyllic protected national park of Pidgeon Point with no hotels, just palm trees and a bar serving snacks to keep refreshed off the water. At the end of the day, relax over a cocktail and watch the setting sun. In the evening, head out to the local bars and restaurants in Crown Point. It's a relaxed place and the ever present reggae music makes for a party atmosphere. The local capital town of Scarborough has a range of local and duty-free stores. Market day is great for soaking up the atmosphere and buying some local produce.


Travel Details
Airport: London UK / Tobago
Transfer: approximately 15 minutes!


Board and Wing Foil Hire
The centre on the spot offers a very high quality set-up with excellent customer service, with equipment from Ezzy, Neil Prydes, Tabou, JP Australia.



For more information or to book call +44 (0)1273 844919 or enquire here >