White Sands

Barbados

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South of the airport, Long Beach is the main kite hang-out, with 2km of undeveloped beachfront and cross-onshore NE trades. The waves are mainly mid-sized; big winter swells can see 3-4m on the reef, but increasing wave heights mean bigger shorebreak too. There’s a nice downwinder from Long Beach to the other spots, but only experienced kiters should ride Surfers Point. It’s a very rocky little bay with pretty gusty winds downwind of the point – although that also keeps the waves cleaner. The best wavesailing break on the island and ex-PWA World Cup venue, Silver Rock Beach has plenty more space. With the usual 1-3m swell, it’s good for wavesailing novices and offers easy freeride inside the reef. It can get mast-high in winter when hardcore riders will relish the challenge; one of the regulars is local hero Brian Talma who runs his 'de Action’ centre here. The wave works best with N or NE swell and slightly cross-off NNW wind. It’s a beautiful venue, surrounded by grassy areas and shady trees, and with stacks of parking, toilets and showers. Right next door Silver Sands has similarly awesome conditions, but less space and sometimes worse shorebreak – hence it attracts more windsurfers than kiters. With only sporadic signposting, none of these places are easy to find. It’s best to zig-zag through the grid-plan residential streets towards the coast. In easterly winds when it’s onshore and choppy down south, it’s worth a trip out west. Right on the coast-road, Maxwell offers freestyle to bump-and-jump conditions. A good kilometre further, there’s more flat water at Casuarina Beach – commonly known as Turtle Beach after the hotel. It is touristy but it’s actually a very nice beach, and occasionally a 100m-long clean 1m wave breaks straight in front of the hotel. White Sands is completely different, a small windsurf break not far from St Lawrence Gap’s clubbing scene. The little reef rarely breaks, but when it works (in strong easterly wind) the hollow waves are fantastic. A gusty launch between the rocks means it’s experts only! The pure sands of Dover Beach throw up a small beach-break in strong easterlies, but it stays mirror-flat in NE. Be prepared to share the place with sunbathers, swimmers, snorkelers and catamarans. You’ll never be lonely in Sandy Beach either, it’s a real family favourite so the atmosphere’s always friendly. The shallow lagoon is perfect for beginners and freestyle while mid-sized waves break on the reef. Occasionally, in big swell and cross-off easterly wind, Sandy Bay’s a hot tip for down-the-line riding in awesome conditions. If it’s too crowded in the south and you’re up to the challenge, try your luck on the northern tip of the island. Cow Pens and its upwind outer reef Red Backs is a double-spot with big wave potential in heavy N swell and NE winds. The launch between the rocks isn’t easy to find – and it’s sheltered from the wind, so you’ll have to swim a few metres out to waterstart. Outside, in up to double mast-high waves your fate’s in your own hands. And the east coast? Thinly populated with wild tropical vegetation and a wide swell window, it’s a Mecca for surfers with world-class breaks like 'Soup Bowls’ in Bathsheba. But the NE to E onshore trades are no good and rocks lurk in many places – any expedition to sail these remote breaks relies on SE wind.
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Kite and Windsurfing Guide
Ganz anders White Sands, ein kleiner Windsurf-Break unweit der Clubszene von Saint Lawrence Gap.
White Sands is completely different, a small windsurf break not far from St Lawrence Gap's clubbing scene.
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