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Windsurfing in El Gouna, Egypt
29.12.2006
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El Gouna, also called the Venice of Egypt, has been created out of the desert some twenty years ago. It is quite different from places like Hurghada in that it shows a homogeneous architecture with buildings of only 2-3 floors, has a reasonable surface and of course because of the artificially created lagunas. The wind is the same as in other Red Sea resorts, blows slightly onshore, much weaker in winter than during summertime.
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The place some 20 km north of Hurghada is well known in the kiter scene, both among beginners as well as experts. That’s not the same for windsurfing, at least as far as the material is concerned, but for learning to windsurf both the men-made lagunas as well as the beach are perfect. But also experts in windsurfing may find good material for planing and moves, though the boards are not brand new, while the sails are often only 1-2 years old. For freaks of the latest stuff I propose to bring it along, then they can be happy too.
As windsurfing (and kiting too) in El Gouna is linked to warm-up walks or bus riding, I decided to have a look at the various possibilities on my first day there (there was no wind anyway) during a lengthy 5 km excursion.
Our hotel, the Three Corner Rihana, has a small station directly at the lagoon, well suited for beginners. At the Rihana beach is a second station with good material. More north at the beach, outside the construction zone, you find two big kite centers. One of them, the Red Sea Kite Zone, has boards and sails too, but you will windsurf in a big bunch of kiters, despite separated launching zones. The Steigenberger hotel, preferentially booked by golfers, offers also some material on the beach, but maybe you better stay with golf clubs in this case.
The best cost-performance ratio I found in the Sheraton with nice guys and a good distance to walk twice daily from the Rihana and back. The most recent boards, Mistral Explosions from 2004-2005 with 150 and 170 lt of volume, were equipped with short and large fins with the idea to reduce encounters with the reef (I managed anyhow to bring the fin back in my wetsuit, and that at three occasions). For more wind and waves they have two Ride’s from F2 and a slippery Fanatic Bee with 235 lt.
Sails are available in the range of 3.5 to 6.7 m2. Beginners and those with some limited experience find everything perfect, including the teachers, Naser and Romaryo. The lagoon is ideal for learning, whoever goes with the wind will be stopped by shallow water and sand and walks back easily. You may not be a beginner, but not daring to go to the open sea: try a section between the hotel and the harbor with flat smooth water, though some upwind performance will be necessary unless you prefer to cross to the small island and walk a few steps there.
Also those who head to the open sea will have to do the same. To start planing between the two marks on the reef means walking about 300 meters at low tide. Lets continue our coast walk finally. At the vast Mövenpick premises more south of the Sheraton you may also hire boards of various brands and good sails. In between there is another station that I could not see in detail, seemed rather kite-oriented. Near the south end of El Gouna, the ClubMed seems to have the most recent stuff of the whole place, but earlier experience elsewhere tells me that it will not be rented to non-members.
Taken together; El Gouna is a place for families, for learning and progressing in windsurfing, of course for kiters of any level, but not really for “hardcore gear freaks” missing their own stuff. Of course, everything else you may enjoy in and on the water, like diving snorkeling and so forth, is available too. .
Heinz Beck / www.becksartnihe.com
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 | | wind in El Gouna während unseren Ferien |
 | | Typische El Gouna Häuser an der Lagune auf dem Weg zum Strand |
 | | Surfstation beim Sheraton Hotel |
 | | Schwachwindphotoshooting in der Lagune (sorry, aber die angetraute Photographin bleibt bei mehr Wind am Pool) |
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 | | el gouna map |
 | | Blick Richtung Norden mit Insel, Flachwasserzone und der grossen Kitezone im Hintergrund |
 | | Schwachwindphotoshooting in der Lagune |
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