Windsurfing in Morocco

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Barrett
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Joined: 12/23/2003 - 23:07
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Windsurfing in Morocco

Peggy & I just arrived in Essaouira, Morocco. I rented gear at Club Ion recommended by former Atlanta windsurfer, Alain Ciclet. We’re staying at a small family-run hotel, called a Riad. It’s a walk from the beach.

I wish I’d come here a month ago when I was in shape after windsurfing in Nags Head. Conditions are challenging with high winds, crossing sets of ocean swell & onshore waves. Water is 64F despite intense dessert sun. It’s a dramatic, but stimulating change in environment & culture.

There are a number of French tourists due to a direct flight that just opened from Paris, but otherwise it’s a fairly remote spot still retaining it’s local culture.

Barrett

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arrogantj
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Joined: 01/24/2012 - 14:11
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Re: Windsurfing in Morocco

My, they have strange looking dogs roaming the beach there. btw, any sign of this guy?

Tip of the day. Stay upwind of Boujmaa Guilloul

(He was very contrite afterwards.)

--- The Arrogant Jerk: Crabby and irritable since 1998.

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Barrett
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Joined: 12/23/2003 - 23:07
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Re: Windsurfing in Morocco

OUCH !!! It’s a plane, it’s a bird, no it’s a windsurfer dropping out of the sky. Good reason to wear a helmet.

Barrett

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Barrett
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Re: Windsurfing in Morocco

Today’s session at Essaouira was a lot more rewarding. I feel a bit like I’ve landed on a dessert planet for the filming of a Star Wars movie. The island across from the surfing beach has an ancient Moorish fort. When I came in for a rest, hooded riders on horses galloped by, and camels were resting all around. Thanks to Peggy for putting up with sand-blasting wind while getting photos of me in the surf.

Barrett

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webguy
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Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
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Re: Windsurfing in Morocco

How did you like the Fanatic STB?

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Randy
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Joined: 05/05/2002 - 10:38
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Re: Windsurfing in Morocco

Don't take a camel ride. I took a camel ride once. I had to pay to get on and then pay again to get.

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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Barrett
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Joined: 12/23/2003 - 23:07
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Re: Windsurfing in Morocco

Good advice Randy. We didn’t ride camels. Some are for riding and others appear to wander down to the beach in the afternoon. We were told they walk to a nearby “forest”. (groves of trees) and find food there.

I actually like my JP tri-fin, convertible freestyle wave better. I only use the thruster fins on my JP in wavy conditions & big wind like today. The back strap on the Stubby seems farther back than on my JP, and spun out when I shifted my weight forward to stay on a plane in the lulls. Maybe I’ll get used to it.

Barrett

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Randy
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Re: Windsurfing in Morocco

So Webster - did you loan him one of your boards with a custom nose job to take with him? Looks like yours, except for the paint.

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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webguy
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Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
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Re: Windsurfing in Morocco

Randy, if I knew I could simply paint the front of the board white, it would have saved me a week from trying to find a match for that Mistral Flow green - I never did. Funny thing though, yesterday, two A-boxes arrived in the mail. I'm going to convert the other Flow into a tri-fin. That's why I was asking about it.

Now, back to the camel updates. Here, we just have those mundane geese walking about.

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dave_delozier
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Joined: 04/20/2002 - 06:28
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Re: Windsurfing in Morocco

Great pics, Barrett! You guys have a serious case of vacationitis....

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