Hi,

Are there any windsurfers out there??? If the weather isnt too bad on Sunday was thinking of heading down to Hallwilersee.....
http://www.surfschule-octopus.ch/aktuelles.html

Helen

Thanks for sharing the link. Do you windsurf?

I am not a windsurfer but will really like to try it & hopefully take some lessons in the summer. I don't have time this weekend, but keep me posted if you go sometime in future & I might come along for some lessons.

I was brought up by the sea so can windsurf can let you know if I go in the future.

Hi there, I see it's been a while since you posted your message. I'm interested to know how it went for you? I windsurfed when I was a kid and gave it up to start surfing. Now that I moved to Switzerland I am trying to take it up again.

I have had some trouble trying to find a good spot to get back into it. I mean a place with enough parking, where it is allowd (obviously) and somewhere with consistent (ish) wind.

I have tried Urnersee, Sempachersee, Bielersee and Neuenburgersse and only windsurfed once.... an be a stressful sport here. Any tips would be Great

Steve

Be very careful with Lac de Neuchatel and Bielersee, as the weather can change VERY rapidly. If the temperature drops quickly up in the nearby Jura mountains, it rushes down to the Lake at great speed in minutes. So do watch for the warning light dotted all around and take them seriously.

Ok, I didn't know that, thanks. I am taking you seriously but at the moment I would be happy to see some stronger wind though

Steve

The wind is called Le Joran, and catches many unaware every year- sometimes with terrible consequences. It's a wonderful lake, but unless you are strong and experienced, stick fairly close to the shore. It's so tempting and easy to let yourself go on a reach and suddenly find yourself a long way away. The Joran is much more likely to happen mid to end afternoon.

That warning light is what windsurfers are looking for. It's not worth going out if it's not on, and they turn it on if a sparrow farts in Alsace.

Stronger wind does happen, but it's usually gusty and the period of the chop is very short. It's ok for a while but if you are used to sailing on the ocean it's quite disappointing to be honest.

The video below was one of my best days in CH. Anywhere else it would have been mediocre at best.

Looks like a great day out - but, not if you are a beginner to intermediate Eire- in which case best keep our if the light is on (I know some who never came back).

Beginners shouldn't be sailing unsupervised. Intermediates should already know how to self rescue if things go wrong and should not launch if there is a chance of the wind going offshore.

At some point if people want to progress in the sport they will need to start sailing when the "light" is on. They should take every possible precaution to be able to get themselves out of trouble if something goes wrong but by telling a windsurfer to not go out when it gets windy they will never be a real windsurfer.

Agreed- same for skiing, snowboarding, sailing, etc - being aware of local conditions (which maybe very different to where you come from or have learnt/practised in the past) is useful to stay as safe as poss. Going out when the light is on because you choose to is different to going out on fairly calm day with a false sense of security, and get caught out in the middle of lake with violent change within minutes. Enjoy.

Hey,

I would love to try windsurfing on lake Zurich some time this summer I am going to Vassiliki in Greece for 2 weeks next weekend for windurfing. So hopefully I will be a bit more confident when I get back. I have only done 15 days so far. Keep me updated with any good windsurf spots!

harriet

I've sailed on Lake Zurich a couple of times. When it's windy it's usually only for about 20mins and usually before a thunderstorm so it's not ideal. Every time I've sailed there the wind has dropped on my when I've been in the middle of the lake which left me with a slog to get back. I'd not really advise it.

If you have about 15 days experience and would like to get out for some light wind sailing there is sometimes a thermal on Sihlsee (launch spot just past Euthal)during the summer. The lake is a reservoir and it's often quite low at that end of the lake so you can stand a long way out. It'd be a reasonable place for an intermediate close to Zurich.

There is a windsurf school at Betlis on Wallensee too. I've been there a few times but the conditions never tempted me on the water there. I'd check out the school if you wanted to sail there though as a boat pick up might be helpfull unless you can get back to your start point regardless of what happens as the lake has high cliffs and there ain't really somewhere else to land if you can't get back.

Enjoy Vass, they get pretty consistent wind there. It'll be a great place to improve.

__________________
This message is a natural product. The variations in spelling and grammar enhance it's individual character.

Interested in skiing, Snowboarding or Mountain Biking in Switzerland? Information in English available here.

Hey, thanks. I grew up in the ocean so I think that whatever happens I would be fine on the lake. I definitely need one or two days medium wind (10-20 kph) to start feeling confident again though. Think I will do it with the school at silvaplana. Any of u guys living in the Basel area?