Windsurfing in Jamaica: Great!

With some trepidation, signed up to sail in Jamaica. I had been scared by lack of any other WS there, but with small kids I needed a full service resort that was easy to get to. Sailed at Brian's windsurfing, which is 10 minutes walk from FDR Pebbles, an all-inclusive place with nannies. This is 45 minute ride east of Montego Bay. It is truly a fine place to sail, windy every day of 5 days except it was flukey on my first day 7.0-7.5 and then it rained. After that it was 6.0, 5.0, 6.0 and 6.0 for my medium weight. Very clean water, easy and safe side shore launch, no shallows, rolling swell developing later in the day, no real waves, but I hear that it happens. Jamaica is great, good food, friendly people, and really excellent wind, I am looking forward to going back, especially because my family can be well taken care of. I am surprised nobody had ever set up a windsurfing operation before there. To me, it beats Aruba (more comfortable weather, more challenging) and all the other places with good sailing (easier to get to than DR, Costa Rica, Margarita). Probably not as good as Puerto Rico for wave sailors.

D Mark

Mark,

Al & I had gone on a vacation to Jamaica back in the early 90's. The place we stayed at had some pitiful old windsurfing equipment that was a real challenge, but I remember how shocked the local boys were when this 'old woman' (ha) took out a tiny Jimmy Lewis narrow speed needle & I managed to sail it better than they did.

It's wonderful that Brian is offering windsurfing vacations there now. I'd like to go back now that updated equipment is available. Jamaica is a fun island. Thanks for the report. Is there a URL of Brian's Jamaican vacation that you could post?

here ya go :
http://brianswindsurfing.com

brian's the man - excellent instructor too.

dave in charlotte.

Thanks, Dave. I see from the weather link that it's blowing 20 there this morning. Nice. -Susan

What kind of gear did they have?