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Windsurfing
conditions:
Whether you're just beginning the sport,
or are at an expert level, you'll find the conditions that
make it perfect for you. The Eastern Trade Winds provide strong
and consistent wind all year round. The water is warm all
year round as well; averaging about 26 degrees Celsius, so
there's no need to bring your wetsuit. The 2 km wide bay has
a sandy bottom, with only a few spots of reef in the inner
bay that are quite easy to avoid.
Sailing conditions in the mornings are
perfect for beginners or children, as the water tends to be
flat and the winds light. Early afternoon sees the winds increasing
for intermediate to expert level sailing. The wind can continue
to increase until mid-afternoon and then maintains consistency
until around 6:00 pm, for a great afternoon of sailing. At
certain times of the year the reef enclosing the Bay creates
great wave sailing conditions. At other times, flatter waters
are optimal for slalom sailing.
Note that the wind in Puerto Plata is always weaker than
in Cabarete. |
The Wind: The
trade winds with thermals make for strong and consistent winds.
The wind blows easterly, which gives Cabarete perfect side-onshore
kiting conditions most of the time. Generally in the morning
there is little to no wind. At around 12:30 - 1:30 the thermals
kick in and make the wind a lot stronger reaching its strogest
at about 4PM. Click
here for various wind and weather forecasts.
The following
are the average conditions you can expect at different periods
of the year:
Mid-December through
April: Winter Windsurfing Season
Average sail size for mid-sized Male: 5.7m2
Beginner level in the morning.
Intermediate to Expert sailing in the afternoon.
Great conditions to learn and practice wave
sailing.
World-class wave sailing on the reef.
Consistent winds, averaging 13 - 17 knots
(24-32 km/h, 15-20 mp/h)
Side-shore winds.
June through September:
Summer Windsurfing Season
Average sail size for mid-sized Male: 5.3m2
Beginner level in the morning.
Intermediate to Expert sailing in the afternoon.
Flatter waters great for slalom sailing.
Waves are not as consistent as in other periods.
Great winds, averaging 13-22 knots (24-40
km/h, 15-25 mp/h)
Side-shore winds.
Other periods of
the year:
The months of May, and the period from October
to the end of December, tend to be less reliable in terms
of windsurfing conditions. They can vary from not that
great, to excellent, depending on the weather systems
moving through the area. Cabarete still sees many windsurfing
visitors during these periods because there are so many
other activities available should the wind not cooperate
for a day or two.
Water conditions:
The water temperature is always about a comfy 26°C (79°F)
so you don't ever really need a wetsuit (but it does provide
some protection against bruises though).
More info: Also
try the windsurfing section of ActiveCabarete.com, Hispaniola.com and DRpure.com.
See you on the reef.
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