"It's the first time I've seen Andrew since he came back and he tells me it's the best beach holiday
For 25 years, the Wildwind centre has become known as the top location for windy afternoons and perfect beach sailing conditions. Set in the bay of Vassiliki on the island of Lefkas, with an informal friendly atmosphere, we’ve become one of the world’s prime holiday destinations for those who have high expectations when it comes to their sailing holiday.
The Wildwind teams in Vassiliki and Mauritius proudly congratulate our founder and CEO Simon Morgan for the excellent result of him and his crew, former Wildwind staff member Bryony Spieza, at the Hobie 16 European championships in Lake Garda (Italy).
5th in the Masters
3rd in the Grandmasters
1st in the Great Grandmasters
Still going strong, Simon!
⛵🏆
Three weeks of ILCA heaven: Wildwind's Intensive Laser Clinics
We started off the season with three weeks of Intensive Laser Clinics, led by Aaron Smith. The Clinics had been oversubscribed for a couple of months, so we added an additional Laser Week to the start of the season, which promptly filled up as well!
Aaron used to work for Wildwind before he became Chief Instructor at the Andrew Simpson Centre in Garda. He's now back at Wildwind as Second In Command, working closely with our new beach manager Ash.
The third and last week of the Intensive Laser Clinics will start this Sunday, but given the enthusiasm it's safe to say that they'll be back next year, again early in the season.
The lucky participants have been able to radically improve their boat handling and racing skills in a variety of conditions including, of course, the classic Force 5-6 afternoon cross-shore. Our next newsletter will include a more detailed account of what they have been learning.
Here's some feedback from Ellie Ratusniak, secretary of the UK ILCA association who has been staying with us the past two weeks and who participated in Aaron's Laser Clinics:
Peter and Lilian, our wonderful agents for Germany and Switzerland, are available on the Hobie Cat Class Association throughout the BOOT show in Dusseldorf running until Sunday 28th January. Also on the stand will be Wildwind manager for the past 28 years and Joyrider TV YouTube expert, Joe Bennett, from Monday 22nd until Wednesday 24th.
They're in Hall 15 - do come along and say hello!
More info? https://www.boot.com
What's it like, being European but living in Mauritius to run Wildwind's famous tropical sailing holiday? That's the question the German public broadcaster ZDF asked Klaus Gerasch, manager of Wildwind Mauritius. They sent over a TV crew and the last few days great fun was had by all!
Wildwind Adventures Mauritius
Sailaway today to Grand Baie. In the morning 10 knots, afternoon less and wawes.
At the risk of oversharing: we're already getting a bit nervous here! Today (Saturday) is the last day of voting in the 2023 British Travel Awards and we'd REALLY like to continue our winning streak!
For a small, independent travel company such as Wildwind, winning the BTAs has made a tremendous difference. It's the kind of external validation that tells us and others that we're doing something right.
If you haven't voted yet but you do think we deserve to win, please take some 30 seconds out of your schedule and go to https://wildwind.co.uk/vote right now. I'm sure we've already told you, but the organisers of the BTA will raffle off tens of thousands of pounds worth of travel prizes, including a Wildwind, Wildwind Adventures or Healthy Options holiday for two. So this might just be the most lucrative 30 seconds you've ever spent!
If you did already vote, let me just thank you for your support on behalf of myself and the entire team. Your love and support really means the world to us!
Can you spare a minute to help Wildwind?
As you might know, we were the proud winners of the British Travel Awards in 2019, 2021 and 2022. As a small company, this meant a lot to us, as it was such a great recognition of the hard work of our dedicated staff.
Obviously, we would like to continue our winning streak - and we have indeed been nominated again. If you have a moment, we would surely appreciate your vote! It only takes a minute and it would mean the world to us. If you believe that Wildwind offers a unique and fantastic holiday experience, please head over to wildwind.co.uk/vote and help us win!
Anyone can vote. If you’re not from the UK, simply uncheck the box that says “I have a UK postcode”. Σε ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ!
Ionian Regatta (week of 16th September)
You’ve heard about it. The scuttlebutt is strong. The Ionian Regatta is set again on September 20th for another classic contest mixing beach cats and yachts on a 25+ nautical mile battle alongside some of Greece’s most majestic coastline. It’s the annual long distance race where we invite the yachties to join the fun of all things Vassiliki.
Think of it as a mini Fastnet: yachts and the Wildwind catamaran dinghy fleet jostle for position on the same start line but with different time sequences. The fleet then sails out of Vassiliki Bay, circumnavigating the stunning, uninhabited island of Arkoudi and then heading back to Wildwind for the finish line, followed by refreshments and maybe a few more refreshments. Tactics can be dubious as the top shelf of the Zeus Bar challenge the night before can scupper a few unsuspecting keelboat warriors.
Spirit of Adventure
This is one for those with a spirit of adventure and whatever comes your way. The race is 35km as the crow flies but the on water distance is a lot further as the boats tack and gybe their way along the course.
Finishing back in Vassiliki, we bid the yachts farewell as they carry on to Sivota for the night and back to a finish line off the Wildwind base. Whilst the keelboaters face the prospect of a night of sleeping on board, the Wildwind clients are happy in the knowledge they’re returning to hot showers and en suite accommodation.
The boats in the fleet will be the Tornado, Goodall C2, Hobie Tigers, Hobie Pacifics, FXOnes and Hobie 16s. How are boats for this long distance extravaganza allocated? It’s all based on your level of experience: for example if you're a strong Hobie16 sailor and you've never sailed a Hobie Tiger or a Formula 18 then we prefer you to sail a Hobie 16. Results will be calculated using the Vassiliki yardstick system so even if you’re sailing a Hobie 16 and the Formula 18s have beaten you on the water the win might still be yours.
Bowie and Hendrix
Competitors, sailors and non-sailors alike are welcome to join us on the bus over to the next village Sivota to join in the party and celebrations in this beautiful harbour which Wildwind clients don't usually get the opportunity of seeing, featuring the UK's number one David Bowie tribute band and a Jimmy Hendrix tribute band.
The Ionian tends to be a truly international lineup with the on water commentary keenly following the various teams from Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, etc. fighting it out with tactical manoeuvres all the way.
For those less experienced sailors, the golden tickets are to sail as crew with a staff member. These are in hot demand as only a few staff are available to sail as the rest are either on the rescue ribs or stay at the Wildwind base for clients who don’t want to join the Ionian.
Which monohull dinghies will you find in our boat park this year?
The good news is that our fleet is even bigger than you’ve been thinking it is from our website. We have 70 boats - not 62. Yes, we now have fourteen ILCA Lasers, four RS Qubas and three Laser 2000s waiting on the beach. Apologies that with so much new kit arriving this year we didn’t get round to updating the site. We believe we have the largest range of dinghies and catamarans at any holiday company in Europe.
Decisions, decisions…
With so many different boats to whet your appetite - from Optimist though to 49er - all with their different strengths in different conditions: which will you choose to launch? With such a bonanza of choice we thought we might help you decide which to take out for your sailing adventure each light wind morning or adrenaline filled afternoon. So we got creative and lined the 15 different types of dinghy in beauty pageant style, fully rigged along Vasiliki Beach: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cF6rDBHlZ4
Who’s dance card will you mark?!
It’s back: RS800!
After a few years without one, due to popular demand, we've reintroduced the RS800 to the fleet. The 800 is the perfect skiff class regardless of your size and weight. Minimal weight and hull drag mean that the rig doesn't have to be enormous to develop awesome speeds. It's a great boat for your first double trapeze monohull experience.
78 crispy new sails
To add to the excitement there are no fewer than 78 crispy new sails on the sail racks this season. 43 are for the monohulls so it’s none of those disappointing baggy sailing holiday sails at Wildwind.
Our fleet to help you decide which to launch
Here’s a quick summary of the 46 dinghies waiting for you on the beach:
1 x 49er - Very advanced Olympic class racing skiff, experience needed even as a crew!
1 x RS 800 - Twin trapeze high performance skiff
1 x 29er - The youth version of the 49er.
1 x RS 100 - Stunning single-hander with gennaker
2 x RS 200 - One of the most successful double-handed race classes of the modern era
2 x RS 500 - Advanced single trapeze dinghy
2 x RS Aero - Fast singlehander - also with foiling kit. All three rig sizes 5, 7 and 9.
14 x ILCA XX Laser 1 - BRAND NEW - The classic Olympic single-hander dinghy, available with ILCA 7 (standard), ILCA 6 (radial) or ILCA 4 (4.7) rig. With 23 brand new sails.
2 x Laser Foilers - Allows you to fly rather than sail!
3 x Laser 2000 - Stable and fun teaching dinghy, a great introduction to spinnaker handling
1 x RS Vision - Stable and fun teaching dinghy, a great introduction to spinnaker handling
1 x RS Feva - The world’s bestselling two-person sailboat in recent years
7 x RS Zest - The model in RS 's range updating the RS Quba
4 x RS Quba - A versatile 1 or 2-man dinghy, suitable for kids or the whole family
2 x RS Tera - The next step up from the Optimist
2 x Optimists - NEW in our fleet - the no 1 racing boat for kids.
Wildwind has the largest range of dinghies and cats of any sailing holiday in Europe
Which multihulls will you find in our boat park this year?
Have you ever wondered exactly how many boats we have in the Wildwind boat park all rigged and looking out over Vassiliki Bay? It’s a question we’re often asked. Well, we have 70 and for the catamaran addicts please see below the breakdown of the 25 multihulls in the fleet.
Spoilt for choice
With so many different boats to choose from - all with their different strengths in different conditions: which will you select to launch? It’s a pleasant dilemma for any sailor to have.
To help with this conundrum please take a look at Wildwind and Joyrider TV’s maestro Joe Bennett taking you through each of the catamarans that are waiting expectantly on the beach for you to grab a buoyancy aid and trapeze harness, strap in and launch to fly across Vassiliki Bay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir_56XL4fqk
5 crispy new sails
The catamarans are proudly sporting the smart 35 new sails we have in this season. We know our clients well and crispy new sails are a must to get the most out of those new techniques and manoeuvres during your holiday with us.
Our fleet specs to help you decide which to launch
Here’s a quick summary of the 25 catamarans waiting for you on the beach:
1 x Goodall C2 - F18 high performance cat. 18’ long, 2.6 metres wide, inverted shape hulls, double trapeze, high aspect foils, dagger boards, high aspect deck sweeper 17 sq m main sail, 4.15 sq m jib and 21 sq m spinnaker. Capacity 240 kgs. Weight: 180 kgs.
1 x Tornado - Former Olympic 20ft catamaran. 20 ‘long, 3.08 metres wide, double trapeze, dagger boards, 16.6 sq m high aspect main sail, 5.33 sq m jib and 25 sq m asymmetric spinnaker. Capacity: ask a gold medalist! Weight 155 kgs.
6 x Hobie Tiger - Advanced ISAF internationally recognised F18 catamaran. 18’ long, 2.6 metres wide, double trapeze, dagger boards, high aspect 17 sq m main sail, 4.15 sq m jib and 21 sq m spinnaker. Capacity: 240 kgs. Weight 180 kgs.
3 x Hobie Pacific - 18 foot beach cat, ideal for cruising or stepping stone to the Tiger. 18’ long, 2.6 meters wide, double trapeze, skeg hulls, 15,5 sq m main sail,4.15 sq m jib. Capacity 240 kgs. Weight: 185 kgs.
3 x Hobie FX One - High performance 17 foot single-hander racing catamaran. 17’ long, 2.51 metres wide, lightweight hulls, single trapeze, dagger boards, high aspect 16 sq m main sail, asymmetric 17.42 sq m spinnaker. Capacity: 135 kgs. Weight: 154 kgs.
7 x Hobie 16 LE Race - Classic beach cat that you can take out in just about any wind. 16’ 9’’ long, 2.41 metres wide, low volume asymmetric hulls, double trapeze, 13.77 sq m main sail, jib 5.12 sq m. Capacity 240 kgs. Weight: 145 kgs.
2 x Hobie 15 Turbo - Great learning boat with lots of volume, making it very forgiving. 16’ 4” long, 2.26 metres wide, high volume deep skeg hulls, double trapeze, no boom, main sail 11.5 sq m jib 3 sq m. Capacity 320 kgs. Weight:155 kgs.
1 x Hobie 14 LE Turbo - The original Hobie that’s stood the test of time and possibly the most difficult boat to sail that we have in the whole boat park. 12’ long, 2.34 metres wide, asymmetric hulls, single trapeze, 10.46 sq m main sail. Capacity 109 kgs. Weight: 109 kgs.
1 x Hobie Dragoon - 13ft friendly single-hander/kids boat that is a great introduction to cat sailing. 12’ 8” long, 2.2 metres wide,Main 9.5 sq m jib 2.20 sq m, double trapeze. Capacity 240 kgs. Weight: 114 kgs.
Last call for Vassiliki speed weeks
Now less than 2 weeks away the Vassiliki Speed weeks are almost upon us.
If you have not yet booked your place and you are able to get away at short notice this week looks to be an amazing experience for anyone wanting to know how fast they are really going!
We’ve just taken delivery of Velocitek’s speed pucks which will be mounted on your boat so that you can see immediately your speed and your best ten second spurt will be recorded and placed onto the leader board every day with fun prizes across a selection of classes.
And, of course, our expert instructors including cat master Joe who has recorded a speed of over 25 kts on a Hobie 16 will be at hand to give you tips.
Classes:
• Overall
• Fastest cat that’s not a Hobie 16
• Youth catamaran (under 16)
• Fastest Dinghy
• Fastest Laser
• Fastest Zest (under 16)
• Fastest Zest (under 12)
This is open to all Wildwind clients and anyone else able to bring their own boat to the event. No racing experience needed - you just need to know how to sail fast in a straight line.
If you keen to join us, we have a very few places left but we may be able to offer some attractive last minute prices based on rooms allocated upon arrival and that may involve a room change mid week. Call us for latest availability.
During the Speed Weeks our full regular programme is available as well.
Youth RYA courses at Wildwind
Those who wish to can also choose to do one of the youth specific RYA Start Sailing Stage 1, 2, 3 or 4 courses and return home proudly brandishing a new certificate. More experienced youngsters are welcome to sign up for more advanced courses such as RYA Start Racing or Sailing with Spinnakers: the list is a long one. Our RYA Training Centre Certification covers 22 (yes, you read that right!) RYA courses available at Wildwind.
As a shy junior who has grown up at Wildwind and who went on to be on RYA National Squads comments: it’s a relaxed way to get your qualifications under your belt without hanging around waiting for a UK weather window to launch and to do them quickly.
Kids who already have some experience in the RYA youth classes will be coached individually, taking into account their ambition and ability. It goes without saying that a keen eye is always on them for maximal safety.
Wildwind Teens and Kids Club
Parents sometimes deserve some all so valuable ‘me-time’ and the younger family members hanker after spreading their wings on their own independent adventures. Our Teens and Kids Club is free of charge and open every day for all kids aged 6 to 17. Youngsters of all ages and sailing ability - from total beginners to aspiring Olympians on RYA squads - will relish getting to grips with new racing techniques or learning to sail in the safe, azure water of Vassiliki bay
There’s no set schedule as we tailor the activities each week to best suit the ages, abilities, interests and aspirations of the particular children and teenagers with us (we may even listen to desperate pleas from parents!). One week we might run an intense week of sailing, coaching children through any RYA level, while other weeks we will focus solely on water confidence and ensure kids are having the best time they can on the water. Most of the time, there’s a mix of the two: we might spend one morning with each child in their own boat practicing manoeuvres and playing sailing games, while the next we’re surfing paddle boards and doing handstands on the trapeze!
So what will the younger family members be getting up to whilst you launch for an adrenaline sail or grab a wine by the pool? They will get to try their hand in simple beginner dinghies and Hobie Cats to more advanced boats if more experienced. Apart from sailing? Everything from swimming, model boat making challenges (of course demonstrating the five essentials), pool and beach games and those all important ice creams to a trip to the water park. You will listen with envy of tales of their adventures on mini sailaways to Barbecue Beach further along the bay for a snorkel. The key element we focus on is that whatever they are doing they are enjoying themselves.
You will be able to relax and do your own thing knowing the kids are in safe hands from 10am to 1.30pm and then from 2.30pm until 5pm. Let us take the weight and cater for when little Jimmy wants to spend as much time on the water as possible, while junior Julie is adamant she only wants to swim and go to the inflatable water park. Dedicated instructors are on hand for when the going gets tough and the tough just need an ice cream. And with our substantial discounts of up to Ft159000 a head for Teens and Pre-teens you can afford all the ice creams their little hearts desire…
So what can teens and kids get up to on a Wildwind holiday? With and without mum and dad
Wildwind is the perfect place for families to kick back and enjoy their holiday time together or turn up the dial and take on more challenging sailing conditions. From relaxed meals at the water’s edge, pool time high jinks to grabbing the opportunity to try out different boats for a team sail round Vassiliki Bay: Wildwind has it all.
Discounts for Teens and Kids
As Wildwind is the family sailing holiday you all really want rather than the budget option there are discounts to support the whole family being able to benefit from all we have to offer - both on and off the water. There is an automatic Ft46500 discount on a one week holiday and Ft75500 on a two week holiday for teens aged 13 to 17 years. Double discounts apply for Kids from 6-12 years: so Ft99000 on a one week holiday and Ft159000 on a two week holiday.
Wildwind Teens and Kids Club
Our Teens and Kids Club is open every day, free of charge from 10 am to 1.30 pm and then from 2.30 pm until 5 pm.
Ocean Explorers
If one of the clan is a budding Greta, an Attenborough fan or currently hyped by all things Little Mermaid 2023 we also have the optional Ocean Explorer programme on Wednesday and Thursday mornings at a 15% discount for Wildwind clients. These cover everything from marine conservation and the ecology of Vassiliki Bay to underwater e-scooters, snorkeling and scuba diving. For more information please see here http://greece.wildwind.hu/sailing-news/calling-all-nature-lovers-aged-6-12--4
Greek Reporter:
Lefkada, widely known as the “Caribbean of Greece,” is a recipe for the perfect summer holiday in the Ionian Sea, a perfect dream destination for people who love exotic islands.
Located in the Ionian sea, Lefkada is a stunning island, even by Greek standards. It connects to the mainland by a small bridge and is easily accessed by car.
Are you any good at maintaining and fixing dinghies and cats. We need a bosun at Wildwind as our previous one had had to leave for personal reasons. Fancy a paid glorious working holiday? If you're free for a month or more let me know.
So much new kit for 2023…
The beach team has almost finished unpacking all the new kit for the season. They are in nautical heaven, happily surrounded by 78 new sails. YES you read that right: 78 BRAND NEW SAILS! For us sailors, is there anything more satisfying than opening a brand new sail? There’s nothing to compare with the pleasure of that lovely crispy feel and sound…
We pride ourselves on providing quality kit. Wildwind has always been the sailing holiday designed and provided for and by sailors so we are delighted to be able to invest in so much new equipment. New sails mean you can really make the most of putting all our coaching tips into action and perfect your technique without being held back with saggy old ones so often found on holiday boats.
New boats for 2023
Additions to the fleet this year include four spanking new Hobie 16s only used at last year's World Championship and in the special colours for the event. Here’s a video of Beach Manager Joe Bennett unpacking one of them: https://youtu.be/VZ2CMnKD6cY
And here’s the team taking a synchronized swimming approach to putting the sails up for the first time: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=search&v=756040806006107&external_log_id=da76311f-1377-47fe-bf12-a8b1f0c454b5&q=wildwind
Hot off the press is the news that there will also shortly be a RS800 waiting on the beach this year to fly round Vassiliki Bay at awesome speeds.
In the catamaran fleet, the six Hobie Tigers, three FX1 single handers and three Pacifics all have freshly refinished hulls with rubber grip for comfort as well as improved traction for trapezing in that famous thermal afternoon wind.
Wildwind & Joyrider TV Speed Weeks July 16th and August 27th
Calling all speed freaks and adrenaline junkies out there: this has your name on it. Or, rather, the Speed Week’s leaderboard may have by July 23rd or September 3rd!
High wind, flat water
To celebrate Beach Manager Joe’s Joyrider TV hitting over 7.5 million views (yes you read that right) on what has become the world’s most popular beach catamaran sailing channel on Youtube, Wildwind is putting on two weeks dedicated to really getting the most out of the unique high wind and flat water conditions here in Vassiliki Bay.
Is this really a sailing holiday company positively encouraging you to take their boats out in high wind and push them to the limit? In a word: ‘yes’.
Does sailing at over 20 knots tempt your inner Rocket Man? Were you born to be wild and looking for adventure?
GPS watch measurement
The big difference for the Speed Weeks to the speed stick trials we've occasionally run in the past is that each entrant will be issued with an identical GPS watch to measure speed. This one design consistency will deliver both accuracy and impartiality. Each competitor will be allocated a minimum one hour slot each afternoon to give them the best chance of hitting their maximum velocity. The best top speeds will be recorded on the daily scoreboard and prizes given in the following categories at the final prize giving dinner in Vassiliki:
• Overall
• Fastest cat that’s not a Hobie 16
• Youth catamaran (under 16)
• Fastest Dinghy
• Fastest Laser
• Fastest Zest (under 16)
• Fastest Zest (under 12)
This is open to all Wildwind clients and anyone else able to bring their own boat to the event. No racing experience needed - you just need to know how to sail fast in a straight line.
Can you beat 25.66 knots?
Let’s find out how fast you really sail! We’re looking to beat the Wildwind records to date:
• 25.66 knots - Hobie 16
• 23.80 knots - Hobie Tiger
• 23.56 knots - C2
• 23.50 knots - Tornado
• 18.00 knots Rob Spencer - Laser Standard
• 20.23 knots Marko Reynolds - Foiling Laser
The schedule
Monday:
safety briefing, get used to the conditions and settle in
Tuesday
Morning: competition briefing, try out GPS in morning light winds
Afternoon: one hour slots for time trials
Evening: WILDWIND BBQ
Wednesday
Afternoon: half hour slots for time trials
Thursday
Afternoon: ‘Round the Rock race’ at the outer limits of the bay, followed by one hour slots for time trials
Evening: COCKTAIL AND GREEK FEAST NIGHT
Friday
Morning: Regular Race Day followed by one hour slots for time trials
Evening: PRIZE GIVING DINNER IN VASSILIKI
Yachts and Yachting says “Wildwind has it all... and turns it up to 11!”
Editor of Yachts and Yachting Mark Jardine’s opinion of Wildwind is a glowing endorsement for anyone keen to read an independent review of what it’s like to come on holiday with us. His standout points? He was blown away by the fleet waiting for him on the beach: ‘the range and quality of the boats at Wildwind is
simply extraordinary…some of the best dinghies available’.
We’re happy with that from such an experienced sailing holiday attendee! Reinforcing our last newsletter about the ILCA fleet with the 23 new sails for this season Captain Jardine confirms they ‘have the proper battened sails and XD controls’.
Spinal Tap wind conditions
What puts Vassiliki on the sailing map is the thermal wind that blows in in the afternoon, after the light morning conditions: conveniently after your break for lunch and leaving a civilised time for digestion. The Yachts and Yachting article makes the distinction when comparing Garda’s ‘Ora’ and the French ‘Mistral’ with Vassiliki’s wind ‘Eric” (yes you read that right) that here you have the option of ‘volume control’ by choosing which part of the bay to sail in: to keep it at an ‘8 or 9’ or ‘fans of Spinal Tap’ can ‘turn the dial…up to 11’.
Kids sailing at Wildwind
If you are planning a family holiday and want to make sure the kids are well catered for the review may help. For both members of the Jardine Youth Team it was their ‘first week of trapezing, on both monohulls and cats’. Mark’s kids revelled in the experience as the thermal wind left them ‘exhilarated, energised, enthused, and exhausted’. As their sailor dad notes ‘it's the kind of experience that can make a young sailor go from pastime to obsession and help them begin their journey to understanding just how enjoyable sailing can be’.
Mark and his family didn’t just stay at our base in Vassiliki but got out and about on the rest of the island including its independently judged world class beaches.
Highly experienced staff
Wildwind has always been the sailing holiday designed and provided for and by sailors. The staff have a raft of racing experience under their belts and, as editor Mark reports, are ‘highly experienced’ and keep the boats ‘in superb condition’. He notes that, Olympian, America's Cup and SailGP star Chris Draper, sums up Wildwind when he says "I was lucky enough to have worked at Wildwind for a short period before I got seriously involved in my Olympic commitments. My best memories of Vassiliki are simply blasting around in a selection of high-performance dinghies and catamarans - with the flat water and good afternoon winds it really is a fantastic sailing destination."
Please read Mark’s article in Yachts and Yachting here:
https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/253676/Wildwind-has-it-all-and-turns-it-up-to-11?
IHCA and UKLA class sponsorships
We at Wildwind like to give back a bit to the sport that has given us all so much in life: that’s why we are proud to have been long term sponsors of the UKLA (UK Laser Association) Grand Prix circuit as well as the Masters and our recent partnership with the International Hobie Class Association (IHCA).
Key to our support is that it isn’t only a national champion who has the opportunity to win in the annual prize draw but rather enthusiasm and commitment so the more UKLA ILCA events you enter in the year - the more entries you have in the Wildwind holiday prize draw. We love sponsoring greater participation in the sport we are all so passionate about. Equally at the Masters Nationals draw anyone can win the Wildwind holiday - irrespective of your performance at the championship.
Likewise with our new sponsorship of the IHCA in providing instructional videos and newsletters the role is supporting individual sailors to raise their race game and offer better value for their membership fees.
ILCA / Laser Intensive Training Clinics - May 7, 14 and 21
A racing sailor's dream
Thoughts beginning to turn to dreams of podium glory in your ILCA/Laser this year? Whether you are relatively new to club racing with one season under your belt or a seasoned virtuoso - would a week of intensive race training in the sun set your season off to a flying start? The week covers everything from boat tuning, tactics and boat handling to leave your competitors in your wake.
The ILCA/Laser is the classic Olympic single-hander dinghy and we have all three rig sizes on the beach ready to go. There are 14 Lasers and ILCAs and 23 brand new crisp ILCA white sails waiting to be unrolled: YES you read that right 23 BRAND NEW SAILS - and those lucky enough to bag a slot on the intensive ILCA/Laser clinics will be the ones unfurling them: any racing sailor’s dream. These are on top of the 15 sails new in 2022 as we at Wildwind understand that quality kit is important to our clients:
● ILCA 7 sails: 8 x ILCA 2023; 6 x ILCA 2022: total 14;
● ILCA 6 sails: 9 x ILCA 2023; 5 x ILCA 2022: total 14;
● ILCA 4 sails: 6 x ILCA 2023; 4 x ILCA 2022: total 10.
New sails mean you can really make the most of putting all the coaching tips into action and perfect your technique without being held back with old kit. With so many sails in all three rig sizes you will also never have to wait for the rig size you want. Add in the sun and Vassiliki’s infamous ideal wind conditions and this could be the kickstart of your best racing season yet.
"The boats were superb!"
As Niall Peelo ILCA sailor and UKLA member wrote last year:
“Having done several ‘dinghy beach club’ type holidays I have always been slightly disappointed that the boats have been old, average condition and the sails had no battens. I checked out the Wildwind fleet of ILCA’s first, and was honestly amazed. The boats were superb. Some were brand new built by Riotechna, and the sails were all new ILCA logo’s sails (which had battens), and on top of that they actually let you go sailing when it’s over 15 knots!”
Positively encouraging and supporting clients to sail in the high wind afternoons, rather than grounding everyone to protect the kit, is a USP at Wildwind - thus the name. The bosun is there every day to take care of the boats - not to dampen your sailing and learning experience. Our two specialist ILCA coaches will be on hand to help improve your high wind race boat handling and tactics with a full rescue team as back up: if you approach high wind gybes with a little trepidation this is the place to tame them. The light winds in the morning are ideal for perfecting technique and superb preparation for those all too frequent low wind UKLA and club races when patience and technique win the day.
This year's Laser instructors
As always, the intensive ILCA/Laser training weeks are led by outstanding, experienced coaches. This year they will be:
Aaron Smith
Aaron Smith started off on the RYA Optimist UK National Squad with a string of podium positions, three national champion titles (also in the RS Feva) and representing Great Britain at several World Championships. He then transitioned to the Laser 4.7 (ILCA 4), worked his way up to the RYA Laser Radial (ILCA 6) UK National Youth Squad before transitioning to the Standard (ILCA 7), representing Great Britain at five World Championships across all three rig sizes: so whether you want to focus on racing the ILCA 4 (4.7), ILCA 6 (Radial) or ILCA 7 (Standard): he’s your man.
Aaron then turned his hand to coaching in 2011, kicking off in the UK, where he focused on the RYA Optimist Zone/Development Squads. With an impressive list of 16 RYA instructor qualifications to his name he then spent five years at Wildwind so he is no stranger to all things Vassiliki from instructing/joyriding and “generally drinking too much”. Having spent the last few seasons as Chief Instructor and Centre Manager at The Andrew Simpson Centre in Lake Garda Aaron will be returning to Vassiliki Bay for two weeks intensive ILCA/ Laser training: he knows where his heart and the best wind conditions lie! For Aaron book May 7th or May 14th.
Ash Deaton
Much loved and popular among Wildwind clients as a coach with a calm, gentle approach Ash has been Wildwind Beach Manager Joe’s Second In Command for the last five years. Ash ranked in the top five under 18 ILCA 6 UK sailors with top ten national championship results and qualified to compete for GBR in the Europa Cup. When not coaching in Vassiliki in the summer he is to be found coaching open UKLA East and South ILCA Regional Training and over the winter he coached youth national champions and a youth world champion at the Royal Hospital School.
Ash has worked alongside some of the best ILCA/Laser coaches including: Tim Hulse - ex British Sailing Team and Head of UKLA training; Shaun Priestly - currently coaching an ILCA 6 Olympic campaign and Joe Drake - Former ILCA 7 Youth National Champion. So he’s learned his craft from top ILCA instructors and will be sharing their techniques with the select ten who attend the clinic on May 21st.
Exceptional personal attention
Places are strictly limited to ten a week to guarantee exceptional personal attention so each person can focus on their own individual goals and needs for the best possible preparation for your season.
Niall Peelo UKLA member’s luck changed in 2021 when he won the Wildwind holiday in the raffle at the Pevensey Nationals that is part of our long standing support for the UKLA and the Masters Series. Covid delayed his trip until 2022 but rather than us telling you here is what he thought about the clinic he attended last year:
“All I can say is that it was superbly set up. Very similar to the ILCA training days we do in the UK, well structured, with low wind practice in the morning followed by a civilised lunch at one of the Wildwind bars and a heavy weather session in the afternoon, and then for me a blast on the windsurf board before heading into the small old town for dinner in the evening.”
Niall also suggested that we: ‘need to advertise this more in the UK, as many club mates were enduring the rain in the UK to get some pre-season practice in, probably not realising this option is available in 29 degrees of heat with Wildwind!”. With places limited to ten sailors a week we prefer to take a quieter approach. Ten is the ideal number to really focus on those critical start lines and first beat of a race whilst allowing coaches to help with bespoke, individual advice. At the start of the week we record the aspects of your sailing you would like to work on and personalise your training plan. In addition to boat park and on water sessions, each followed by an all important debrief, there will also be in-depth lectures and video feedback in the beachside bar, giving sailors a chance not only to learn from our coaches but also their peers.
As you wait for the season to start or your visit to Vass, take a look at Aaron’s video on how to improve your tacking skills as shown on Joyrider TV here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPLVXOC2mak&t=18s And Niall’s read full write up here https://ilca.uk/news/wildwind2022trip for the UKLA website.
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Three weeks of ILCA heaven: Wildwind's Intensive Laser Clinics We started off the season with three weeks of Intensive Laser Clinics, led by Aaron Smith. The Clinics had been oversubscribed for a couple of months, so we added an additional Laser Week to the start of the season, which promptly filled up as well! Aaron used to work for Wildwind before he became Chief Instructor at the Andrew Simpson Centre in Garda. He's now back at Wildwind as Second In Command, working closely with our new beach manager Ash. The third and last week of the Intensive Laser Clinics will start this Sunday, but given the enthusiasm it's safe to say that they'll be back next year, again early in the season. The lucky participants have been able to radically improve their boat handling and racing skills in a variety of conditions including, of course, the classic Force 5-6 afternoon cross-shore. Our next newsletter will include a more detailed account of what they have been learning. Here's some feedback from Ellie Ratusniak, secretary of the UK ILCA association who has been staying with us the past two weeks and who participated in Aaron's Laser Clinics:
If you have a moment, we would surely appreciate your vote - it only takes a minute and it would mean the world to us! If you believe that Wildwind offers a unique and fantastic experience, please head over to wildwind.co.uk/vote and help us win!
Vote in the British Travel Awards - go to wildwind.co.uk/vote Don't forget to check out our good friend Joe's AWESOME channel Joyrider TV on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lHDaNse_-YIaYNeparQ_w
Straight from beach in Vass, it's Joe asking you to VOTE FOR WILDWIND in the British Travel Awards! If you haven't yet done so, you can cast your vote at https://wildwind.co.uk/vote
Joe, our excellent manager and Alex our Healthy Options manager bid you all the best from a rather chilly Vassiliki
Today, Wildwind has welcomed the first guests of the 2021 sailing season in our beautiful sailing centre in Vassiliki, Greece
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