Lake Arenal is to high
wind bump and jump sailing what Hookipa is to wave sailing!
The only difference is
we don´t have the reef and the jellyfish, so you´re
safe to concentrate on having fun.
From mid-November through April
the easterly trade winds blowing across the Caribbean are reinforced
by the strong north -easterly flow from the Gulf of Mexico.
The winds are funneled through the mountains of northern Costa
Rica and reach maximum strength at the western end of the lake,
right where Tico Wind has its launch site.
The wind is pretty much sideshore and most
ramps set up for port tack jumping with chop and swell reaching
1.5m (5') on the big days! December through February are guaranteed
Gorge-like conditions while March and April offer a mixture of 4.0m²
to 6.0m².
How consistently strong is the wind?I hear you ask. Well, most local sailors
don´t own a sail over 5.5m² or a board over 90 something
liters. I weigh around 190 lbs (90kg) and sail more than 60% of
the days 5.0m² or smaller on an 80 to 85 ltr board. My wife
weighs.......................less and sails mainly 3.5m²/4.0m²
on a 66 ltr board !
**.....actualy I weigh between 60 and 63 kg, depending how much
sailing time I get in
" the wife"