Mobydisc said...
I checked out La Franqui on Google Earth. In that straight offshore wind, next stop is Sardina! Would they have some sort of rescue boat or jetski on hand?
No.From a Dutch site..
by
Jibbs 'Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:50 am
It was a very nice weekend with a big group of friends who go hard and have much humor.
Very nice pictures Michel! Am looking forward to the rest of the movies from Roger!
However, I want to post a cautionary note for anyone who thinks La Franqui is a speed paradise:
The spot: WARNING, WARNING!
This can be a very difficult and dangerous spot for sailing and definitely not suitable for the novice surfer speed!
Once the Tramonant sets in, if you damage your kit/gear it is impossible to swim back to shore!
It is not possible for example to stand in chest deep water more than 20 m from the shore as you feel the water flows away from the shore! To run it is a must to be able to waterstart in rough conditions!
The sail back to the start of your runs is also a task. Many wind like last Friday and Sunday it was possible to be very close to the wind close to the back side to navigate if you have good technique. But here, never assume, before you know it you're 100 to 200 m from the shore with 6 to 7 bft offshore and gusts up to 50 knots!
Never go out alone and pay attention to your fellow windsurfers, there is no control on the speed strip as the lifeguards are away at La Franqui! Please note that you may lose your kit/gear!
You fly along the beach only 5 meters from the shore. In most places the water is deep enough to sail smoothly. However, there are shallows that you can see upwind but not visible downwind! These places you will come to at 70 km / h!
You can sail around them but then you shoot yourself out to the open sea! You are then full speed in the chop and before you know it you have a bad crash. If you do serious damage to your kit then you lose it! As mentioned before, swimming with your kit/gear is not an option!
Speed: DO NOT EXPECT MUCH!
Because of the relative wind angle you sail along the beach at an angle of 110 to 115 degrees, in other words, your technique is important! If you look at the speeds of the weekend it seems a paradise, but 70 + is really hard!
Mind you, I want nobody his/her records withheld but hopefully I make my post clear that Franqui quickly becomes deserted and you have to know what you're doing! It is not a Horst where after a crash you can stand up and damage kit can be walked back to shore.
Translation Google/Yoyo
just with more wind it seems.
