Next year looks to be even more exciting with extra Diva weeks planned, including a youth week on 20th July (more to come later) and more UK Diva dates.

I wish you all a fantastic holiday and look forward to windsurfing with you in 2008!

Special wishes to ex-Club Vass manager Sean Jameson who is getting married to Karinka in April. See you there guys.

This is always on of the best sessions of the week because girls are generally unaware of the kit that is available to them that makes their sailing a much more enjoyable experience. Using my gorgeous blue S1, which is by far the best looking and most comfortable sail on the market, I went over rigging a sail properly and talked about the best components to use. The S1 is not only beautiful but it is designed to take reduced diameter masts only. And for the girls with their smaller hands the light small skinny masts are the way forward. Everyone was surprised at how light the masts were and appreciated how much easier waterstarting and tacking could be using them. Likewise with the boom. I showed them that a 100% carbon boom is lighter and stiffer and with a narrow grip could extend their water time by reducing the ache on the forearms.

Talking kit!

Then we had a look at boards and their different designs from the small Starboard Rio which is a perfect entry level board for smaller girls with its relatively low volume and daggerboard, to the Starboard Carve for solid intermediates, the petite 68 litre Starboard Acid for waves and smaller ladies, to my favourite and the choice of the advanced ladies this week, the Starboard Flare. With lots of the group now looking to buy their first board this proved to be very useful indeed.

Then on to harnesses and wetsuits and optional extras like my zebra print furry uphaul, boom protector and volcano which always create a stir. Looks still count in windsurfing - it’s all about the image let’s not forget!!

After the kit chat was the Club Vass race day in which second and third place were taken by Diva ladies! That’s what we’re talking about!

After lunch a steady breeze developed allowing us to finish the week with a video session to show all the girls just how well they have improved. After the debrief at six even the most self-critical were satisfied that they had made an enormous improvement. A special mention has to go to the beginners who were out every day in planning conditions mastering beach starts and had even started planning in the harness on their last day. That’s commitment and a great testimony to the professional skills of Amy and Tash who are two of the most dedicated and talented female instructors around. Thanks girls.

The day finished with the Club Vass barbecue the highlights of which was the boys plate dance (put on especially for the girls) and our prizegiving. Each of us picked a member of our group who found an extra special place in our hearts and we presented them with a delicious cocktail and goodies from Animal and Club Vass; wallets, caps and tees.

The Naked Chefs!

A few good reasons to come to Club Vass!

Thank you to Animal, Starboard and Severne for supporting the Diva weeks. Many thanks to all the boys on the beach for looking after us, Simon and Alex in the cocktail bar, all the front of house staff for their fantastic service but most importantly Tash and Amy who did an amazing job and the week just wouldn’t have been the same without them.

Amy, Nancy and Tash! Bbq style!

Happy Birthday Del!

Look out for the next Diva week in September. Hope to see you there!

Three of the fab bar staff: Andrew, Joel and Jen.

Then at 11.30 all the ladies gathered together to embark on a sail away to a local beach for a picnic lunch. As we approached the beach (on the downwind side of the bay) I could feel the wind tickling in cross shore setting us up for an afternoon of fun but perhaps a tricky journey back!

Ladies lunching by Vassiliki bay.

The lunch was lovely and courtesy of the Food and Beverage team Rach and Tammy (cheers guys) and after a healthy amount of tanning and gossiping we looked at our return journey. Looking up wind across the bay it looked to be a solid force 5 so without hesitation I decided to double up as a taxi and ferry all the girls back to the beach, an idea which received no objections! I radioed the beach and all the boys went in to Baywatch mode, gunning across the bay in powerboats to rescue the ladies! What gents they are!

Rachel and Tammy - The F&B team.

Once we had retrieved all the equipment the wind had dropped slightly making the conditions perfect for all levels. Everybody ventured out and Amy and myself managed to sail with everyone on a one on one basis. This is the absolute best way of encouraging confidence and improvement which was proved this afternoon. Everyone was thoroughly enjoying the gentler winds and the tips which we were imparting and the improvement was significant.

For our evening social we started off in the cocktail bar where manager Simon had been rustling us up some delicious Diva cocktails (raspberry daquiris - yum!). Si did an amazing job with his partner in crime, Alex, and did us girls proud (and made us a bit tipsy too!)

Simon, right, and his sidekick Alex in the fabulous cocktail bar.

Sail away

Down to the restaurant for a delicious 3 course meal and the girls partners joined us despite a vicious rumour that we were going to make them sit on a separate table! No chance! It maybe girls only windsurfing but we know how to party and that includes the fellas! On to Wildwind next door for some live music and comedy and those who made it to the Zeus bar deserve congratulations after such a busy day. As for me.... my lips are sealed!

As the forecast predicted the cross shore kicked in at lunch time and because the advanced and intermediate sailors had been rested they were ready to get straight out before the uncomfortably strong winds developed.

To my surprise and pride all of Amy’s group and a large majority of the beginner crew also hit the water for some high wind action. Get in there girls!

Every single person on the water improved from Ianthe getting a lot further round her gybes, Sue O trying her first ever duck gybes, Joyce planning in both her straps, Sandra using her harness effectively and starting to plane from it, Sue L and Deirdre gaining much more confidence in high wind sailing by learning more about steering control and Tammy beachstarting and “whooshing off”! All that and much more.

By 5 the wind was a solid 7 again which in earnest was too strong for everybody (myself included!)

So well done everybody and it’s an early night for you ‘cause it’s all about tomorrow!

The yoga tent at Wildwind.

All the groups hit the water and the theme of the day was tacking. And for the beginners who on their second day were sailing upwind and tacking, was a massive achievement - well done ladies!

We decided to meet up at 3 for the afternoon session and as me and my co-instructors were sitting at the beach hut (working on our tans for the Wednesday night barbecue), we watched the flags turn 90 degrees and in came a perfect cross shore wind right on cue!

Waterstarting and beachstarting were the order of the day and everybody achieved after much whooping, laughing and cheering and there were cheesy grins all round! Then it was time for a coffee break to warm up and get ready for some blasting action.

Helen planed for the first time hooked in on her Rio board and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a happier face although I remember exactly how that felt to plane for the first time. It’s a huge adrenaline buzz and the recipe for windsurfing addiction!

After the days fun we all met in Bar 155 in town for some pre-dinner cocktails. Feeling decadent we were all indulging in champagne cocktails (I can recommend the Kir Royale) followed by a meal at Stelios where we were provided with an amazing array of Stelios special dishes. The perfect end to the perfect day!

Blue skies and a warm morning breeze accompanied the 24 Divas to Club Vass for the first day of our windsurfing week. Myself and my co-instructors, Tash and Amy, welcomed everybody in the cocktail bar (start as you mean to go on!) and divided the girls in to groups according to ability. Tash, a relatively new member of our staff, took the beginner/refresher level, which included an RYA official here to inspect our centre - no pressure Tash! - Amy took the more experienced “improver” level and I started the week off with some intermediate and advanced sailors.

Tash teaching.

The morning was perfect with its sea breezes. All the ladies were out on the water getting rid of the first day wobbles and learning to sail for the very first time or with Amy covering tacking and gibing or stance and lightwind shortboard sailing with me. Fabulous!

On water practise.

After a quick lunch we regrouped and while Tash’s groups explored steering and learning more about the wind the rest of us gathered on the simulator to discuss using the harness and footstraps. It’s always when I do these sessions with the ladies that I remember how much information and understanding girls need. It’s remarkable how much of a difference there is between mixed groups and girls groups in terms of how many questions get asked. Guys tend to nod and say ‘yeah’ (meaning ‘shut up and let’s get on the water’!) and girls want to know more and more to make sure they REALLY understand what they are about to do. Makes sense gals!

Then on to some carve gibing aided by Bubbles’ ‘In it to Win it’ instructional DVD with the advanced crew before the waiting for the wind began! Somewhere around what will from now on be known as ‘ice cream time’ (around 6pm) we decided to go on to the water. Amy took everybody who wanted to be more comfortable in the harness and showed her group that it doesn’t have to be scary and dispelled a few myths about hooking in and out which gave all the girls in her group enormous confidence and big cheesy grins! I progressed my ladies through carve gibing by providing some light wind exercise to improve their footwork after which we were all ready for a cocktail!

We all gathered in the evening for a superb welcome meal at Club Vass and the rest is left to the few remaining memories of our first evening in Vass which also happened to be two of our staffs birthdays - Mark’s (Mike the Bike) 40th and Chrisss 24th. Happy Birthday boys!

Yoga in the morning....

Full name: Emma Sofia Johansson
Age: 24
Home: Oland, the second largest island in Sweden

Results to date:
1st Abbekas Aloha Classic, SWT, 2004 waves
2nd Swedish Championship Habo Ljung, freestyle 2006
Ranking: 14th PWA women freestyle 2006

How long windsurfing: Since winter 2001/2002

Other hobbies: surfing, spending time with my friends

Sponsors: Skidsport Bromma, Fanatic, Simmer, Animal, G-sport fins

Brothers/sisters: Two sweet younger sisters, Elin and Tove, neither of them windsurf but they are both gorgeous!

Status: Got a lovely boyfriend Joel who isn’t a windsurfer either!

What is your ultimate goal?
To be a full sponsored professional windsurfer and sail at as many different places around the world as possible. Also to not get injured!! And do really well in competitions.

Why do you love windsurfing?
The feeling on the water is amazing, the water splashing over your feet and the noise of the wind. Also because it’s challenging and there are always more things to learn, so there’s always something different to practice. I have met some really awesome friends through the sport as well and have seen beautiful places and beaches around the world.

Who is your inspiration?
Pretty much anyone who gives it their all and has a powerful style. My best friend Anna is the one who inspires me to try new moves. Arrogant sailors annoy me no matter how well they windsurf , I look up to people who sail well, help other people and smile on the water, such as Laure Treboux.

How do you like to train?
With friends at a place where you don’t have to look at the forecast because you know it’s going to be windy the whole day every day, so no stress! Usually I do a morning session for a few hours, then stop for lunch, then a couple more hours on the water in the afternoon. I don’t really practice anything for more than 1 hour without taking a 5 minute break to chill out. Taking photos and filming during training helps me a lot when I watch the film or look at the photos after.

What has been your best days sailing?
The day I learnt to forwardloop is a day I’ll never will forget. It was in Margarita and I was on a 3.7, I was smiling for days after!

How have you dealt with the fame aspect of your success especially winning Boardseekers babe!!?
My friends keep me down to earth without any problems!!

What is your advice to girls trying to get better at the sport?
Just go for it and don’t be afraid, there is nothing to be afraid of really. To sail with people who are better than yourself is good and inspiring. There are also loads of instructors around the world so take some lessons. Not only for the good advice and having someone to watch you to tell you what’s going on, but also to teach you how to learn new moves by yourself.

What’s the future for womens windsurfing?
I hope/think the future is looking good. More women are starting to windsurf and the level is getting really high. I can see a big difference just in the last 2 years and I hope it will continue and that media will open their eyes and help promote womens windsurfing!

What are your plans for this year and where can we find you?!
It depends on how much I improve my sailing. But I am pretty sure I will do the PWA freestyle competitions. I will do the Swedish tour for sure, I’d love to go back home and sail with my friends there. But for the moment more time in Dahab, then I hope to go to Jericoacoara again too.

The first couple of days gave us some lovely light airs to get back in the saddle and saw the beginners steering, tacking, gybing and beachstarting while we concentrated on non-planing carve gybes and shortboard tacks with the more experienced of the group.

Our first night out at Funny Mummy restaurant in Masbat was a huge success (apart from losing Jane and Roly on the way there - the same two who got left at the airport!! I sense a theme occurring). But a few bottles of rose later and everyone was in fine fettle and ready for the mid week day off.

Back to school on Monday and after a windy Sunday everyone was showing a marked improvent in their sailing. The stand out student at this stage was Alice. Having been a total beginner on the Thursday was now rocking around in her harness and getting planing on a small longboard - GO ALICE!

Bedouin night brought even more hilarity as we ascended the local wadi on camel back and could we stop Alice laughing? - not for love or money! But she grew to love her camel - I think she named him Derek and the nervous laughter soon subsided!

The next two days brought the highlight of my week - beginner Janey sailing back and forth in the lagoon and completing the entire journey back without even a hint of the rescue boat! What a lot of guts and determination! Other stand out moments was Jane, who was petrified of the harness at the beginning of the week, hooking in and out merrily alongside Sarah, Alice and Caroline with even a few whoops to boot!  Caroline, Helen and Sarah cracked those naughty little beachstarts and Caroline conquered the gybe! 

On the last day we again had a beautiful light wind day sailing in the blue waters of the lagoon and the team were having a fine time freestyling: sailing switch, clew first and even duck gybing. Fabulous!

A special mention has to go to Sarah and Maried, our ‘mums’ for the week, who showed all of us whipper snappers exactly how its done!! Love you ladies!

If you want to join in the fun and frolics then the next Diva week takes place in June in Vass. See http://www.clubvass.com for more info. Happy sailing!

Marazion (April 6-9) All levels welcome, Divas.
Christchurch (April 14 - 15) Forwards, freestyle, bump and jump.
Poole (April 21-22) All levels welcome. Divas.
Shoreham (April 28 - 29) Forwards, intro to wave sailing
Bewl Reservoir (May 4) All levels welcome. Divas

The courses cost £60 per day and Club Vass have offered anyone who books on the course a £60 discount on their holiday in Vassiliki which, if you are going anyway, effectively makes your course in the UK free!

For more booking information or general enquiries about the courses, then please do no hesitate to contact me through this website or on diva@clubvasscom. Guys you may be more interested to talk to Bubble and he is contactable on bubble@k540.com!

I hope to see you there!

My name is Marco Wedele, I’m 24 years old and from the Lake of Constance, in South Germany.
I’m a windsurf instructor and currently centre manager of Club Dahab in Egypt. My father’s house is about 30m off the beach and the last thing he wants to miss out on is windsurfing, so of course he had to show his son what a great sport windsurfing is!

What qualifies you to be hottie of the month?

Well I guess because I’m a very happy guy, who is pretty much smiling all the time, maybe also because I’m well into dancing, like rock n’ roll and salsa!! Another passion of mine is to cook special dinners.

Why do you love windsurfing?

When I’m windsurfing I feel free, it’s a joy of pure nature, find out how far you can go into it and still come out of it and it’s alot fun sailing around with mates, out there where the world seems to be still ok. I probably couldn’t change back to the “real world”, I would just miss the wind, the sun, the beach, seeing girls in their bikinis and everything around too much. Also getting people into windsurfing, or helping others to improve their windsurfing always makes you feel you done something good, especially when they are happy and appreciate it.

Who says two hands are better than one?!
pic by Cyrill Buhler

Why should women windsurf?

Because than they understand us male windsurfers a bit better, understand why we get nervous and lose interest in everything somethimes, but windsurfing whenever we hear or see the wind.

Who and what would be your ideal date?

Giving a private lesson to a hot lady is always an ideal date!!!!

Marco loves pussy......cats!

Where can we find you Marco?

Most of the year I’m here in Dahab, which has become my 2nd home. Mostly out there in the blue office or quite likely you find me on the dancefloor on our infamous club dahab bbq night on Wednesday!

Jacko eat your heart out!

Thanks Marco and if any of you lovely ladies would like a bit of ‘Fiddly’ then get out to Club Dahab or keep your eye on the EFPT (European Freestyle Pro Tour - http://www.efpt.net - where our blonde cutie is sure to shine. Good luck Marco!

Name: Lucy Horwood
Age: 26
Home: Weymouth
Sail No: GBR 95
Website: lucy@lucyhorwood.com
Years sailing:13
Status: Living with Boyfriend
Sponsors:RYA Team GBR
Best results to date:2006 3rd at Olympic Classes Regatta Miami, 2006 5th at Olympic Classes Regatta Palma, 2005 British Slalom Champion, 2005 3rd Formula Windsurfing Worlds, 2005 Formula Windsurfing European Champion.

Tell us a little bit about what you do;

Well basically I used to race Formula and slalom but gradually the girls scene diminished and I was beginning to struggle with financing the whole thing (less sponsors, less events with money, less prize money etc), fortunately at the same time ISAF made the decision to change the equipment/class for the windsurfing in the Olympics - so the RSX was born and with it came an invite from the RYA to join the team along with Bryony Shaw (who had previously done campaigns on the Mistral) and Christine Johnston.  So basically the RSX is the windsurfing class in the Olympics.  So I am basically running an Olympic campaign!! Which involves a lot of gym training, on water training, and quite a few events during the year.

RSX is the new Olympic windsurfing discipline. Tell us a bit about that and how its different from before:

The Neil Pryde RSX replaced the Mistral IMCO as the Olympic windsurfing class.  Windsurfing in the Olympics has always been one design and the RSX is no different.  One design means that all the kit is produced in the same place and should be to the same spec, basically everyone is on the same equipment which takes away the element of having an advantage because you have got the best/fastest equipment!

The difference between the RSX and the IMCO is the RSX is a formula X long board, it planes off the fin like a formula board above 12kts, and then has the dagger board for getting upwind when the wind is light.  Due to the planning element off the fin the fins have to be bigger aswell, the IMCO fin was tiny and the RSX is 66cm and 60cm for boys and girls respectively. The sails are different aswell - the IMCO sail was a 7.4sqm, the boys RSX sail is a 9.5sqm and the girls is an 8.5sqm, and the RSX sail is a much more modern sail which in the light winds acts like a raceboard sail and when down hauled for the windy conditions the leach gives and it acts more like a formula sail. 

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You are in the Performance Squad of Team GBR. Who are they and what does it mean for you?

The Performance Squad of Scandia RYA Team GBR are the top sailors in all the Olympic Classes.  There are 44(ish) in total ranging through the 11 Olympic Classes and we are athletes funded by UK Sport and supported by the RYA and its resources.

For me it means a lot - it is great being part of such a successful team, and being around some big names in the sailing World.  It is great the support we receive to make our campaign as successful and as easy as possible - physio, physiologist, nutritionist, strength and conditioning coaches, lifestyle coaches, doctors - to name a few, these are facilities provided by the EIS (English institute of Sport), and then of course the RYA support - financial, superb coaches (in all sorts of departments - sailing, windsurfing, rules, met, tides, tactics - again to mention a few! Its also a way of life, ‘living the dream’,

What’s a typical day for Lucy/ how do you train?

There is a lot of variety to our training, depending on where we are, what time in the season it is, how close to competition it is etc etc, but a general day would include a few hours cardio training, a visit to the physio, 1 or 2 onwater sessions and sometimes a weight training session.
My main training falls into 3 categories - Onwater, cardio and Weight training.  These are all adjusted depending on where we are in the season and the priorities between the 3 change aswell. 

What do you do when you’re not windsurfing?

Sleep! Well I spend a lot of time on the internet dealing with e.mails, trying to find sponsors, writing articles etc etc.  When I relax I like to hang out with friends, party, shopping, go to the cinema, watch movies, read, and now I have taken up the guitar I will be spending a lot more time with my new instrument!! I would also like to start kite surfing.

Who is your inspiration?

It changes a lot, and there are normally a few - Ben Ainsley (very successful Olympic sailor and probably one of the best sailors in the World), Alessandra Sensini (very successful Olympic Windsurfer, great attitude, and won the RSX World Champs this year), Daida Moreno (just an awesome windsurfing chic!!)

Why do you love windsurfing so much?

Its about being outdoors, being on the water (I grew up by the sea and can’t do without it!!!), its about freedom, every day you sail is different, its challenging (always something else to learn or try), there is so much variety (racing, speed, wave riding, wave jumping, freestyle), and for me competition! I am a competitive person and with racing its first across the line, there is no judging, you know when you cross the line in first place you have won and that’s a great feeling.

What motivates you?

Striving for success - Olympic Medals, World/European Medals, this makes you get out of your bed in the cold winter and go running, or cycling.
Sometimes you don’t feel like a pumping session but you know that if you just put your head down and do it you are one step closer.

What would you be doing if not sailing for a living?

I think I would be a sports massage therapist and personal trainer in my own gym…

What is your advice to girls who would like to have a go at what you are doing?

Have a look on the RYA website (http://www.rya.org), http://www.ukwindsurfing.com, student windsurfing site, find a local event - there are loads of events for all ages, abilities, and just give it a try, you will find it social and you’ll be able to hang out with like minded people.

What do you see is the future for womens’ windsurfing?

There are a lot of disciplines in the world of windsurfing, and at the moment there are a lot of girls out there doing some form of windsurfing which is wicked, I believe the numbers will keep growing and growing and we will take over the world!!

Motto for life?
Be Happy.