WindsurfingUK issue 5 October 2017 | Page 69

67 around was another story altogether. Last time, this meant dropping the sail, trying aimlessly to manoeuvre the board in the direction I wished to head and then jumping on the board, only to fall off the other side and repeat the process again, until a kind rescuer in a speedboat arrived at the scene. Good instruction Well, what a difference good instruction and the right equipment can make! The centre in Langebaan is stocked with all the latest equipment and the buoyant beginner’s board with its tiny centreboard made stabilising myself super simple. The tiny sail, although probably laughable in size to people passing by, was heavier than I expected but pulling it out of the water and manoeuvring it for tacks and jibes was a process that took only a few tries to master. Soon I was up and riding, while around me other windsurfers mastered their tricks on the super flat water or surfed the waves a little further down the lagoon. The water in the lagoon is fairly shallow, meaning my instructor was always within shouting distance if I fell off or forgot how to tack and the flat water and sheltered spot meant I could progress as quickly as my, now aching, body would let me. Already know what you are doing? Not to worry - the massive area does provide waves and more windy spots for more advanced sailors! Amazing restaurants When the day is done, Langebaan provides the perfect place to relax. The main street is lined with a variety of amazing restaurants and cocktail bars from where you can watch the action on the water or sip on a delicious glass of Cape Sauvignon Blanc while enjoying a meal of freshly caught fish. A number of wine farms, and even a craft brewery or two, can also be found in the local area. Surrounding the Langebaan lagoon, the West Coast National Park is also waiting to be explored. You can hike, bike or drive through this unspoilt wilderness uk WIND SURFING