Non-maui winter alternative?

I turn 40 next year in August and I was planning on marking the occasion by fulfilling a lifelong wish and finally getting to Maui for a few weeks.

While this is still a strong option I know there is the odd drama over there what with the north-shore accommodation issue, and I was wondering if anyone has any alternative suggestions for that time of year. The only criteria is warm and some wind and waves. I'm a crap sailor so I'm not aiming for "epic" conditions, just somewhere I can hire gear and have a pretty good time on the water.

suggestions?

Matt

Goldy..

I've had two holidays in Vietnam (Mui Ne) and experience good sailing, great food, friendly people and a awesome cultural experience.. Cheap as chips too!

See www.windsurf-vietnam.com for some details..

Looks like a good spot often thought about making the trip there. The wind looks good through the OZ winter, but isn't this their wet season! Still warm and windy.

Go to Maui.

If you can't get accomodation on the North shore, stay in Kihei and it's only a 15 -20 minute drive.

I went to Raki Raki in Fiji. I am an intermediate sailor and had instruction under Warren Francis(ex Australia's Olympic development coach) every day. Had a ball. Learnt heaps and wind was a blast 5 out of 8 days. Not the place to go if you where wanting to do the touristy thing in Fiji as it is a long way from anywhere. Top of the main Island.

Stingers?

Are you sure about the ex Australian Olympic development coach thing? Last I knew he was billing himself as the "National Development Coach for the Australian Windsurfing Academy", which of course doesn't exist or was a private company at some stage in the past.

Fiji is a nice place to go in winter and cheap to get there. I didn't have as much luck as you with the wind when I went there, so I'm not sure I would go there as the alternative to Maui (not that I've been there).

If you do want a cheap holiday, it's pretty easy to get yourself to Fiji and stay and sail on the same island.

Moon Beach is awesome for warm water and plenty of consistent wind, especially in June/July; no waves when I have been there, plenty of bump'n'jump and some swell out back; I think it can go pretty ballistic in September so the swell may get bigger then. Make sure you're only interested in windsurfing tho cos there is nothing else for miles but desert (and yoga if the missus doesn't sail); also be prepared for fairly quiet evenings unless there's a crowd of you going together cos the only bar is the one on the beach and the guests are often out numbered by the instructors.

www.moonbeachretreat.com

Titles are dime a dozen - its what happens on the water that is the main thing. He was a good coach. I guess they are a dime a dozen too!

banana bungalow is a sh!t hole. i checked in and and checked out ten minutes later. couldnt even close the door to the sh1thouse because it would hit my knees, went back to my room to find them dusting off the matteress with a dustpan and brush....c ya later.