34 FEATURE FLAG BEACH
Possibly known more to kitesurfers these days
Fuerteventura's east coast situated Flag Beach is still a
great choice for a windsurf break mid-winter.
Summertime does see the most consistent blow but
it’s the out of season months where riders will more
than likely encounter challenging, but not life
threatening, rippable waves. Add to the mix versatility -
freeriders and freestylers will also find favour with Flag
- fantastic water colour/clarity, stunningly unique
scenery and you've potentially got yourself a great little
tried and tested winter windsurf escape. It’s also not
extortionate so fairly friendly on your wallet.
Long standing
Ben Thomas (owner) and his Flag Beach brand have
been in place since the 80s. Having discovered this
windsurfing idyll he decided why not introduce the rest
of the windy world to his vision of paradise.
“Skill is a massive part but without experience
It
been
all plain
sailing
(forgive
the pun).
Initially
it hasn't
doesn’t
matter
if you
can
do more
tricks
than
Corralejo was deemed too far flung a destination by
the other
person.”
critics
but more
recently pleasing the powers that be
has been at the forefront of minds.
On more than one occasion the Flag Beach operation
has been given little to short notice and had to be
removed from the beach due to local authority rulings.
But true grit always shines through. With a show must
go on mentality toughing it out during these testing
times has brought the Flag Beach centre to where it’s
at now – a fully functioning set up just a few short steps
from the water’s edge.
The sailing
But back to the sailing... After trudging 150m from
roadside parking riders will get a clearer picture of
conditions. Gazing seaward, over the brow of
undulating sand dunes, turquoise blue water stretches
off towards Lobos. If you’ve timed it correctly then wind
uk
WIND
SURFING
will be puffing left to right with flashes of sail and kit
colour dancing in the sunlight.
Across the channel is Lobos island while in the
distance Fuerte's sibling, Lanazarote, rises from the
Atlantic. Breeze (the Passat) puffs between the gap
created by Lobos and Fuerteventura. Upwind is reef
and any swell unloads its juice directly onto the coral.
There's an outside shelf that gets pretty big on solid
days with the inside still holding some size. A small
channel keyholes the reef next to shore and it's here
you'll find the kitesurfing launch.
Downwind, and in front of the Flag Beach centre, is
where windies dip a toe. At low tide you can walk right
in, taking note of the shoreward reef plates jutting from
the sand. These are pretty flat and don't have any
sharp nasties lurking (urchins). That said you can still
stub a toe and/or ding a fin/board if you clatter into it.
With a flooding tide the reef plates are covered. The
launch is still the same but there's usually more shore
dump in the mix. Any competent rider, however, will be
able to navigate their way through the flotsam, beach
start and blast straight out to sea.
Heading for the horizon you'll note a large lump of
wave unloading roughly in the middle part of the bay.
This is super fun to boost all manner of aerial antics off
with little fear of too severe a pounding. If you stack it
the wave backs off quickly as it hits deep water
allowing sailors to compose themselves and
waterstart. Out back the water gets lumpy as rolling
ocean swell follows the coastline. It's fun to gybe onto
a fat face, the wave blasting riders back down into the
trough full power.
Cutting upwind you can ride some of the breaking
waves closer to the reef. We'd err on the side of
caution here and wait for higher water, otherwise
lurking coral heads could potentially rip off your fin.