Activities
Activities
“The sky and the strong wind have moved the spirit inside me till I am carried away trembling with joy.” – Uvavnuk
Wind Power by Susan Campbell Thanks to Aruba’s constant 20-knot trade winds, which caress the seas, sands, and land all year round, enjoying a multitude of pastimes powered by the wind here is a breeze!
As Chicago is called the windy city, maybe Aruba should be called the windy island! With a range of anywhere from 18 to 35 knots blowing strong due to the unobstructed trade winds of the eastern Caribbean, this island is seldom still and calm. Though some can find the Aruban wind a tad irksome – it wreaks havoc on those trying to keep a well-coiffed “do” – their best bet is to wear a hat or adopt a “beach hair don’t care” attitude! And depending on how gusty it is, you might have to learn to keep a good grasp on your drinks, sunglasses, and even your towels at times!
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The constant wind is also responsible for the bend and twisted sculpture of the island’s famous fofoti and divi-divi trees. Had they grown up in less breezy locales they would stand straight in an umbrellalike bonsai fashion. But that’s all part and parcel of what makes Aruba so unique. And though the wind does prove a perfect foil for the hot, tropical sun, don’t let its cooling effect fool you into thinking you are not getting sunburned. Sunscreen at all times is a must! Yet, overall, the Aruba trade winds are really a blessing, since without them it would be impossible to partake in some
of the island’s most pleasurable pastimes that depend on their power. Here are just a few of them that can make your holiday stay so much more enjoyable when you learn to embrace the ever-present breezes with total abandon…. Windsurfing and kiteboarding bliss
It’s not an inflated claim that Aruba offers some of the absolute best conditions on the planet to learn to windsurf. Just ask 10-time women’s world windsurfing champion, Aruba’s Sarah-Quita Offringa! The queen of the waves says, “The Fisherman’s Huts Beach on Aruba is world renowned as one of the best places to learn windsurfing, and that’s where I trained since I was a young girl. I still practice there often too. The water is very shallow, which makes it ideal for
learning because it’s easy to get on and off the board, even for kids. There’s wind basically all year-round, which means you’ll seldom find yourself ‘dead in the water.’ We have both winds in the same spot: close to shore the winds are light, which are great for beginners, and as you go farther out, the chops get bigger and the wind gets stronger, which appeals to the more experienced sailors. Plus, we have excellent instructors for all skill levels, and quality equipment for rentals.” Kiteboarding (or kitesurfing as some call it) is also very big at that beach; the same type of conditions appeal to those wishing to learn and perfect the trending new sport. (Although the really experienced boarders often head out to the much wilder Boca Grandi for bigger challenges.) !
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Activities
Activities
Aruba’s very own Sarah-Quita Offringa, 10-time women’s world windsurfing champion
For beginners, the discipline is very different than windsurfing. Kiteboarding is more difficult to learn. Carve out at least four hours for your first lesson, which will begin on the beach, until you learn to control the massive kite. And once you’re on the water, you better know your ropes because it will be all or nothing very quickly. Legendary local “shredder” (a kiteboarder known to really rip it up on the waves), Phillip Kervel, says, “Windsurfing has lots of steps you can take to slowly build up speed and confidence, whereas with the kites, it’s either you go, or you sink!” There are many windsurfing and kitesurfing rental and instruction operators along Palm Beach and right at Fisherman’s Huts. Testament to this island’s prowess as a major world force on the windsurfing and kiteboarding circuit, 2016 marked the 30th anniversary of the Aruba Hi-Winds Festival and Competition held each summer that attracts thousands of competitors and fans from all over the globe each year! Visit www.hiwindsaruba.com for this year’s event. If you’d rather sail over the sea without any instruction, then parasailing is the ideal pastime. Many outfits along Palm Beach offer it, and some have harnesses for two people at once. You simply strap 70 Nights
in and take off! Don’t forget to bring your camera, as the aerial views of the coast and the sea from above are epic! But if you’d rather try a sport that harnesses the wind for power without being on the water, then maybe landsailing is for you! The Dutch call it “blokarting.” The cart is like a small boat with a sail that travels on wheels instead of on the waves.
Pelican Adventures offers spectacular sunset sails
Only one operator offers it, Aruba Active Vacations, and they take you out to the flat sand tracks near California Lighthouse for instruction and freewheeling fun that takes you rolling up to 30 miles per hour!
can also privately charter smaller vessels with crews (bareboat rentals are not that common on Aruba); ask your concierge for best recommendations. Go fly a kite!
More sail-powered sojourns
You can also rent and receive instruction for little sailboats and catamarans called Hobie Cats and Sunfish all along Palm Beach, or simply have one of their guides take you out on one. But it’s the large luxury catamarans and wooden sailing ships that really help you to get your sea legs on their daily jaunts out for superb snorkeling trips, sunset and dinner sails, pumping party cruises, and even champagne brunches. The main sailboat operators all mostly anchor at the same spots for the best snorkeling that includes an underwater peek at the sunken Antilla wreck. You
Take a private luxury sailing trip with Isabella II Catamaran
Top photo courtesy of Sarah-Quita Offringa. Bottom photo courtesy of Isabella Catamaran
Join the crew from Jolly Pirates for a memorable and merry tour
Another way to enjoy Aruba’s constant winds is to join the locals in the spring when winds are strongest and kiteflying is all the rage. The Kiwanis Club and other community organizations often hold kiteflying competitions (especially on King’s Day), and many people make their own giant kites. Look for signs in rural neighborhoods that say aki ta bende flie, which means the resident has handmade kites for sale. Buy one for flying on the beach, and then take it home for a unique souvenir! So now you know where to harness the wind; get out and enjoy all the freedom and fun these Aruban pastimes entail! "
Did You Know? Aruba’s Wind Energy Program
This island also takes advantage of the constant trade winds to fuel needs for electricity. With 5,000 hours of wind per year, it’s a reliable source using specially constructed turbines that operate like windmills. Currently these wind farms are meeting 20 percent of Aruba’s energy needs. Top left photo courtesy of Pelican Adventures
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