Windsurfing in Bonaire

Can anyone tell me what the windsurfing is like in Bonaire? Also any good recommendations for places to stay and good nightlife?

Thanks,

Paul,

I was there about a month ago - Annie P., Charles I., and Frank Weston all shared some info with me about this special place.

I rented from The Windsurf Place - Jibe City is right next door....(they open earlier than The Place by the way)

Annie P. set my wife and I up at the KonTiki - a great place to stay for sure. Annie is the person to talk to about where to stay and what to do....she really enjoys making your stay as best as possible.

Kontiki: Upstairs apartment overlooking Lac Bay (where you will be sailing) - nice big deck to have breakfast and overlook the early AM kiters or sailors, and you can also see the sunset from your deck too! They have a full restaurant and bar downstairs so if you're too tired to go into town, you can just go right downstairs!

We could not have asked for a better setup as we wanted to be away from town with a beach view...something more cozy and secluded than a hotel.

As far as the sailing, we had a couple of lighter-wind days - 6.5 to 8.5 (for me at 245 lbs)... but that was not normal, so you can probably expect good wind.

Lac Bay is absolutely incredible - awesome really. 7 square KM of 80 degree water and sand bottom - mostly waist to thigh deep. Perfect flat-water venue with lots of top-notch gear to rent.

I don't think you'll ever forget your time sailing at LacBay - it's a very special place.

Have a great trip.

-Will-

Want to know what it's like? Go here:
http://www.weston-american.com/home.htm

There is no nightlife.

There are many good places to stay depending on your budget. The best bang for the buck I've found is the Yacht Club Apartments. Pool, beach access, new rooms, air, cable TV, close to town, and 10 minutes from Lac Bay.
http://yachtclubapartmentsbonaire.com/

Frank Weston

Hi Paul, I used to run one of the Bonaire windsurfing rental operations, of which there are now two. The windy season is in the summer, but you can get knock-down wind or no wind any time of the year. It's all flat water sailing in thigh deep water with a sandy bottom. Nightlife revolves around Carol's Bar in town. As a whole the island is pretty quiet. You can get info on accommodations from Patty Cressy at www.bonbook.com Have fun. Burr

My fav nite spots are the only ones really..LOL..I start at Karel's for drinks on the pier...so lovely with the stars overhead..then maybe over to City Cafe if a great band is in town. Nothing gets going until 12 or 1 in BONAIRE..LOL..when I come home I sleep for a week.

Annie www.bonairecaribbean.com

We were there in Jan for the 6th straight year. We have always stayed at Happy Holiday Homes-very clean and inexpensive. Got equipment from Jibe City. They are laid back, have lots of good equiment and you can begin sailing early-before they open if you wish.

We found quite a bit of nite life at the Plaza Hotel near the airport. We like to dance and there seemed to be live music at one of their bars every nite.

Enjoy.

LEAN Frank, LEAN!

I agree... I think there is a fair bit of night life if you look for it. And, as Annie says, things don't get kicking until midnight. Most hotels have some bands playing, plus a couple of bars/clubs to dance at or just drink yourself silly. The nightlife is there, it is just not handed to you, Disney style.

dang, look at that bronzed god. i guess a week at bonaire isn't very expensive when you factor in $$ saved forgoing the tanning salon.

frank, tell marc you were just throwing some spray for the camera on the way to a nifty snap jibe.

dave in charlotte.

'Marc A. Lefebvre (US-775)' wrote:

What the picture doesn't show is the nudists I was about to hit.

Frank Weston

The true story of that picture is that I carefully planned the position and angle for the best sunlight and my wife took about 20 shots that morning. Since my wife didn't want to wade too far with the camera, we were shooting right off the beach and I was jibing around a little weed patch in a path about 10 feet wide that was deep enough for the fin. Deviate to the left and I hit the nudist camp fence, to the right I ran aground.

Later, when I reviewed the pictures there was nothing but a wake and spray in all but the one posted. In that one I was just in the corner of the shot getting ready to step off the board before I hit the fence at the nudist resort. I cropped it, blew it up and used it because I knew that if nothing else the sun tan would make you all jealous.

There is a lesson here for Marc who is considering a digital camera for his wife. Pick one with as little shutter delay as possible and if it really is for you wife, make sure she's comfortable with it before you let her loose to shoot your 'hero' shots.

Frank Weston