Travel Bliss

Photo by Hagen/ Cactus Blue Food Truck

Press Release from Kite Week Bonaire – Edited by Caribbean Wind & Sun Vacations

International Kite Course Racing Event Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

Bonaire – For decades the trade winds have blown across the oceans and sailors from many lands have enjoyed the freedom of the seas and the love of salt water spraying in their face. Bonaire is a small island located in the southern Caribbean basin, outside of the hurricane belt, once known as the Netherland Antilles. Despite political changes and collapsing global economies, the island and the people continue their lives interacting with nature and the wind and ocean, much the same way their fore fathers did previously. With a fringing reef that encompass the island and an abundance of fish, the locals are still able to rig their sails and continue to fish for Wahoo or Mahi Mahi, using the simplest of techniques.

Sailing and cruising visitors enjoy the facilities laid out by the Bonaire National Marine Park, with moorings close to the shore and even more importantly, close to the main town, Kralendijk. The Marine Park also helps keep our pristine reefs healthy where even the license plates proclaim our connection to the sea, “Bonaire Divers Paradise”.

With such perfect wind conditions that are steady and consistent, you will see windsurfers, optimists, sunfish sailors as well as kite surfers enjoying the conditions on a daily basis. Larger sailing boats too, will cruise daily up and down the coast as well as taking a short sail around Klein Bonaire, which is a small island in visible proximity to Bonaire itself. To supply these boats with all of their needs there is a small, but well stocked Budget Marine Chandlery. Bonaire is home to one of the oldest Sailing Regattas in the Caribbean and hosts world class events for windsurfing and other sailing classes. Bonaire is quite famous for its windsurfing already. Now it is time for Kite Surfing to take the spotlight.

This year, between 11th and 16th June, Bonaire will be hosting an International Sailing Event, the South and Middle American Kite Course Racing Championships. This event will award 100 ISAF points toward the world rankings so it is a must for all of top level sailors. It will take place in an area to the south end of the island located at a site called Atlantis “Kite Beach”.

To have a kite course race event, where the conditions allow the racers to come within twenty feet of the shore line, is very unique as it is bringing the action right up close to the spectators and photographers. Side off shore winds which are steady and constant mean that the regatta will see plenty of action. A planned schedule of after race events will entertain not only the racers but also visiting sailors and other tourists who visit our beautiful island for the diving, snorkeling or just simply to relax.

With an estimated 90 top professional riders coming from all parts of the world, Bonaire will enjoy a spectacle never seen in our waters before. The excitement is already building and some local riders are training on a daily basis to ensure that the island gives a great performance during the week of racing.

There will also be a spectacular final race, to be called the Bonaire Classic which will see as many as 70 kites racing from Atlantis into the bay of Kralendijk, rounding the island of Klein Bonaire before heading back upwind to the finish line at Atlantis with a distance of 40 km plus, this will be a sight worth watching. This event will be open to amateurs and Pros alike. The action does not stop there; stay tuned for a free style event during the following week.

Kite beach is a unique high energy location where sailors can easily launch their kites and enjoy the perfect conditions. It is also the home to 2 mobile kite surfing schools and the Cactus Blue mobile restaurant to keep you well fed and refreshed. During the rest of the year, the schools offer lessons and rentals as well as sales of equipment to keep sailors of any level happy. There are several safety boats to give those who have not mastered upwind sailing or have equipment difficulties a ride back. Even if you are not sailing, it is worth a trip to the kite beach to watch the action.

To book your accommodations and vehicle rental, contact Ann Phelan ann@bonairecaribbean.com. She has accommodations 65 USD a night and up for two and car rentals for 271.00 a week.

Photo Courtesy of Caribbean Wind & Sun Vacations