Hola from Matanzas in Chile!

Once again, a bit of delay in updating the news page thanks to exceptionally consistent wind and waves, but a slight ankle injury yesterday has to be good for getting jobs done!

Since the last update in October, No wind in Belmullet meant that I was crowned 2010 IWA wave champ after my victory in Co. Mayo. Maybe not the best year for number of contests (due to poor wind), but as far as quality goes, Louisburg was as good as it gets!

Pretty stoked to win something, and proud to add my name to the perpetual O’Neill trophy alongside Finn Mullen and OVG.

Unlike most windsurfers who compete, i’ve never been one to travel for windsurfing, preferring to windsurf in Ireland, and save my overseas trips to score uncrowded surf. But for 2 years now, inspired in part by the movie ‘180 Degrees South’, Rose and I have planned to visit Chile for an extended period of windsurfing and surfing, along with a quick dip into the Andes and South to Patagonia for some hiking and climbing.

For only €90 excess, BMI kindly checked in our 120kg’s packed into 4 bags, compromising of: 2 windsurf boards (Quatro 65L quad / 69l twin), 6 sails (NP Fly2 5.1 - 3.6), 7 masts (X9 rdm’s 340 - 400), 2 booms, 4 extensions, 3 bases, 2 Seven custom epoxy surfboards (6’3 / 6’4), 3 person tent, 4x 5mm wetsuits, 8 books and Rose’s beloved airbed, all the way to Santiago!

Hotel MSR tent in Olas de Matanzas was our base camp of choice for most of our stay, and Super-Mario, the general manager made it his duty to look after us, help with our Spanish, recover anything we lost (check seven-surfboards on facebook for that story) and just share in our dream trip everyday. Surfing and sailing outside the front gate made it a great place to stay, and endlessly hot showers and warm fresh bread after the long cold dawn surf  couldn’t be beaten!

From the very first day there was swell. In fact, everyone says you go to Chile in the summer to surf because its when the waves get small enough to ride! Every single day (50 days+) we were at the coast there was ridable surf.. Over half the days were windy in the afternoon too, so we got more than anyones fair share! Yesterday there was surf, today there’s surf, tomorrow theres surf, Monday there’s surf... its relentless.

As far as windsurfing goes, my preference (and Rose’s) has always been pure uncrowded, side-off Port tack waveriding with an occasional steep ramp to jump off, which is why i made Brandon Bay my home. Chile has given us this everyday it was windy (i’ll have to count the diary.. but it was many many days) and everyday it was so good, and usually only me and Rose or occasionally a few others out, trading the best waves with each other! In 2 months we used everything from 3.6 to 5.1, could have used a 3.2 some days, didn’t really need the extra weight or mast required for a 5.1 (but still used it enough) and broke less equipment than we were told we would! (1 mast, 1 tendon, 1 harness line, 1 extension a small rip in 1 sail and 1 leg rope. Oh and the camera - day 1!).  Every day we sailed would’ve been a good day at home. Some days were incredible.

Although basing the trip around the water, one particularly long run of wind and waves after Christmas / New year meant we were so burned out that we had to get away from the beach just to escape the “inferno” of hot ozone-less sun, blowing dry sand and seemingly endless physical activity. We took this opportunity to get a series of busses and ferries south, to Parque Pumalin in Northern Patagonia and further South to Coyhaique for some trekking in the rain forests and volcanic / glacial landscapes.. Great to be in the rain and the cold and have to wrap up against elements other than wind and sun!

After around 10 days though, we (Rob) were hanging to get back to the beach, and after checking the charts, we could see another good run of classic windsurfing lining up, and decided to get back to base! And what a classic run it was.  Todos los dias.. Every single day! for ten days straight.. Surf in the morning, followed by windsurfing every pm.. 4.2, 3.9, 4.2, 3.6, 3.9, 4.2, 4.5, 4.2 ...... the days blur into one..

One exceptional day, the 21st of January, was the day i’ll remember most. After a few days of fine tuning, my Quatro quad was set up, the fins and base had found their magic spots, my 4.2 Fly2 was rigged perfect, and Rose and I sailed alone for over 2 hours before anyone else arrived. Windsurfing is one of those sports where so many factors have to align to make it ‘best ever’, and even then, you might not be in the ‘zone’ to get the best from it. This day though, every wave seemed smoother and more hittable, every bottom turn got faster and tighter and more vertical, every snap more tweaked and even a few perfect ramps so every backloop seemed effortless! .. I cant put into words how good that day was, and i don’t have any photo’s either, but the fact that it stands out head and shoulders above the other days goes to say just how good it was.. Sailing out and watching Rose get one, then lining up and getting one for myself, then Rose, then me..... 6 turns - 8 turns - sometimes 10.. And all the empty waves in between.. Its a hard call after 24 years of windsurfing, but I’m calling it the best day I’ve ever had.. ! Best ever :)

You cant have such incredible highs without backlash though. By Monday the 24th we began to crack. We were cutting short windsurf sessions due to exhaustion and overdose. My shoulders were too tight to paddle against the current, to surf for more than 2 hours at a time. I was going over the falls on more waves than i was making We weren’t drinking enough fluids.. We were shutting down with dehydration and still had almost 2 weeks to go! Sleep, eat, drink, quick surf, eat, drink, sleep, eat, sleep, surf, drink, eat, sleep routine and NO WIND for 4 days temporarily fixed us. 2 or 3 really good surfs made the rest worth it, which brings me to the last day of wind and the ankle issue from the start!

Another classic day, Just me and Rose on 4.2 and 4.5 again, logo high sets with the odd bigger one and forecast to build. Rose sailing better than ever, and all things lining up for another perfect day.. 5 waves and 2 good jumps in though, I got the biggest wave that had come through so far and kooked it.. Bottom turn nightmare, back foot out, click, front foot stuck, click, over the falls, click click click ouch! Game over! It all happens so fast! Was nice to sit it out and watch Rose sail for the rest of the day. Pretty devastating to watch perfect waves rolling through though with only 1 person out!

I don’t think my foot is too bad.. Plenty of Arnica and a week of rest is just the ticket. In fact. I really think that a week of rest is just what we need before we leave. Nearly 9 weeks since leaving Ireland and i’m still not finished reading the first book i started. Only 7 more and 150 pages to go!

Is Chile for you?

Yeah.. But it comes with a few warnings.. Here’s some pro’s and cons in no real order..

- If you surf and windsurf / kite, then you will score something -

- If you only windsurf / kite then there were weeks when there was no wind at all -

- The surf is epic but isn’t very forgiving if you aren’t used to fast take-offs -

1. -If you’re a goofyfoot - there are only lefthanders! -
   

1. -If you’re a natural foot - there are NO righthanders! -
   

-If you don’t speak spanish, you’ll not get as much out of the place as if you do. We really regret not having proper spanish lessons in advance. We got by with what little we have though, and learned loads -

- Its a long way to fly. Door to door for us was 36 hours ! -

- Its not the cheapest place ever. But its not a rip off either! -

- Car hire is pretty essential, and expensive for a (recommended) 4x4 -

1. -You have to drive for an hour each way to get (in my opinion) the best windsurfing. -
   

- If your better half doesn’t sail, or in my case surf so much - it will end in tears... It will... -

- Mid week is empty.. -

1. -Weekends are busy. -
   

1. -2 months will break you -
   

1. -2 weeks will break you! -
   

-To Fly halfway round the world and not see some of Patagonia or at least the Andes would be a crime. -

1. -Are we coming back? definitely! -
   

A few thank you’s..

Mario at Olas de Camping.. Super Mario.. if we had a problem - he solved it - smiling! (probably laughing at us!)

Robby Swift. - Robby has made Matanzas his 2nd home after Maui, (but i think will become his first) . He gave us plenty of advice, rented us his truck, traded waves, let us store some stuff in his shed and basically helped us out heaps.. Check out www.robbyswift.com

Fiete and Lena. - The cool German duo travelling in their beautiful rusty brown landcruiser who we shared wind and waves and food and drinks with. Lena took all the epic action photo’s as we didn’t have a camera. Forever a beer in Spillanes for you guys!

Amin, the German guy from Gran Canaria who gave us his snapped longboard. It took 6 weeks to get repaired but we got some waves on it! We don’t have your contact details but there’s pints in Spillanes for you too!

Delio, Gonzalo, Blondie and the restaurant crew for beautiful meals and wine when we gave in to the pressure of eating out.

Filipe, Paulo and his boys, The Blondies and their mum, Ron from Israel, Marcin, and all the local crew for sharing their waves with us.

Killian from France / Pichelemu and Klaas from Germany/ Matanzas for the craic (and inspirational back loops!).

Melina, Laurie, Hector and his camping crew, Victor, Gustavo, Carolanne, Loike, Felipe, Joke and the Swiss / Belgiums and a million other people for making the whole trip best ever!

Thanks to, Markus at Seven for bombproof paper weight epoxy surfboards, Jeremy at Jamie Knox for our surf suits, brother Rik at Riks who styled us out with all our sails masts booms windsurf suits and bags, and Quatro for making us the best custom windsurf boards If you’re going to blow your life savings on an all time trip, you really cant compromise on the equipment you bring. Every wave i got, i couldn’t help smiling because i knew i wouldn’t rather be on anything else. (Except the undergunned days that is.. Packing a 7’2 next time.. )

Thank you all.. and see you soon..

As for the next few weeks.. I’m back to the reality of a sail and kite mountain waiting for repair, and the essential bus duties while Rose has to get Spillanes ready for the season!

IWA Wavesailing tour, round 1 begins next Sunday, the 6th in Coolmaine in Co. Cork, and the forecast looks like its going to be very windy! Looking forward to sailing in Ireland again and seeing everyone.

See you at the beach!