40 TRAVELFAMILY HOLS
Touching, feeling, talking about and gently being invited to
step aboard has been one strategy of ours. As said at the
start of this article it’s hard not to be too pushy but I
genuinely believe we haven’t been. All along we’ve given
Molly the opportunity to opt out.
Regular floats on top of SUPs and sweeps round in kayaks
have seen Molly’s water confidence increase steadily. She
was also taken to swimming lessons early on. Prior to our trip
to Club Vass, Greece, she was happy enough in shallower
waters but didn’t care for deeper stuff, understandably as
she can’t swim properly (yet).
So all the foundations had been laid and at the start of spring
2018 Molly had been asking increasingly often to get out on
the water. We were therefore interested to see how warmer
seas and air temps would affect the situation.
Greece
Windsurfing parents may consider they’ve found their own
suitable family sailing destination but for us Club Vass is
definitely the one that works the best in summer. A combo of
decent shaded outdoor space, right next to the launch, which
actually doesn’t get too blustery is the first piece of the puzzle.
Then having consistent (generally) wind that all family members
can make use of is the next tick in the box. Kit is also
important: for both mum and dad AND kids. The fact is, there
are very few centres where 0.8m kiddy rigs are available. This
point alone makes Club Vass worth its weight in gold (diddy
harnesses and boards are also great additions). And then
there’s the general vibe. Windsurfing’s buzz positively crackles
in this part of the world – the Club Vass staff and other guests
helping to push the stoke’o’meter through the roof (especially
when the cross shore kicks in!).
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SURFING
Alongside all this is the ‘easy access’ nature of the village with
everything just a short walk away yet boasting plenty of
amenities and options for eats/drinks. The locals love wee
ones and many restaurants cater for most diets, even dairy
free and allergies as is the case with our youngest. And should
you get a window to go bonkers in the infamous Zeus Bar, or
Club Vass BBQ, then fill ya boots.
In the past Vass has been labelled a hardcore freestyle/party
venue. But actually, these days, it’s more family friendly than
you’d imagine. Of course, wave heads will be left
disappointed by flat water conditions but my take is: ‘all
water time is good time’.