Sardinia, off season, is an incredible place. Once again, we went there for a short trip dedicated to windsurfing, surfing, and exploring fantastic landscapes.

Sardinia, november 2024: every chance is lost... Windsurfing, surfing, and enchanting places!

My friend Paolo, from Rome, lured me into the trap, and I fell right into it.

Studying the forecasts, I made an interesting travel plan, which unfortunately led me to discard Chia, too far away and too risky, to gamble instead, for some windsurfing, between the North Shore and the Sinis, and with a wonderful finale of surfing, and visits to some fascinating places, such as the Dunes of Piscinas and Porto Flavia.

Landed in Olbia on Wednesday 20th, I headed straight for La Ciaccia. Cala Pischina promised a too strong wind. And La Ciaccia, a spot that I don't like so much, this time, made me have fun with a side-on wind, and good quality waves of 2-2.5 meters (see slidegallery). I chose the wrong sail twice, going out with the 4.7 when it was right for the 4.2, and with the 4.2 when it was good for a 3.7. I went out with the Jp Magic wave 89, set as a quad, with the two central K4 Scorchers, to have a slightly softer board given the strong wind. I liked the board, set up like this. I did two sessions that turned out to be physically demanding due to overpowering, but fun. Then, in the afternoon, the wind veered a bit from the West, and came pretty onshore. The spot changed completely, with rough but messy seas, and greater difficulty in riding out. The fatigue was also felt, and the sea spat me out, when I tried to go out with 3.7 and 80. On the spot, also present Adriano with his son Filippo, Alessio, leaving for South Africa for three months (no comment), and Gian Lorenzo from Alghero, with whom I finally had the pleasure of sharing a session. And several Germans, Austrians and Swiss.

Overnight stay at Adriano's house in Barrabisa (Porto Pollo) with gusts of 50 knots, and a nice cool 13 degrees.

Thursday we made the most of the chance to ride out at Cala Pischina. Nice session from 11:00 to 13:00, with a couple of meters high waves and wind of about 18 knots that was supposed to become side, but remained side-on. I chose the right equipment: the powerful Goya Banzai 5.3 allowed me to catch more waves, and steal a few glides, avoiding a tiring floating; the Jp Magic wave 89 with the central K4 Leon fins, which are stiffer, guaranteed me even more speed and upwind sailing. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of the morning.

In the afternoon, I went down to Cabras with Paolo, in view of the Funtana or Capo session, on the next day. Another memorable dinner at Trattoria da Attilio in Cabras (with the Romans, you always end up eating....).

Friday was expected a big swell from the west, and so it was. In Funtana, mast high waves arrived. The wind remained all day from NNW, perfectly side off, but very gusty in the first 150 meters, and then photonic (see slidegallery). I went out with the Guru 4.7, resulting overpowered offshore, because around 12,00, when we entered the water, the wind was not very strong near the shore. Very technical and adrenaline-filled session, with decent surfing on huge waves.... The Jp Magic wave 89 with the Leon fins, this time was a bit hard, under my feet. It would have been better to set it with the Scorchers, or with the standard fins, as a thruster. Also a very tiring session, and after leaving the water after 2.00 pm, and having refreshed myself, I decided not to do another session in the afternoon, because I would not have had any margins of physical resistance. The three consecutive days of windsurfing have left consequences on me, also due to the lack of training, caused by the works in progress on my van to transform it in a kind of camper.

I went to enjoy the sunset at Capo Mannu, which always has an incredible charm for me (see pics of the riders windsurfing there). And I also went to check out Minicapo, where some surfers were enjoying the magic of the sunset (see slidegallery).

Saturday was a beautiful day. First, I enjoy the swell out with surfing. After inspecting Minicapo (almost no waves) and Sa Mesa Longa (two peaks too challenging, and then only foam - see photo), I took advantage of the tips of a very kind Sardinian guy and went to S'Archittu, after also checking out S'Arena Scoada (this one with a beach break too close to the shoreline). S'Archittu turned out to be a fantastic spot for surfing, a bay surrounded by a cliff with the village on top, which reminded me of some Portuguese places. Right waves on a rocky reef, bigger offhore (2 meters), and smaller at about 60 meters from the shore (1 meter), regular and not breaking immediately, and not too fast (see slidegallery). 

Due to inexperience of the spot and my technical limitations, I did not take full advantage of the beautiful conditions, but I will return more aggressive here. Beautiful sun and 18 degrees very pleasant. Fantastic logistics (convenient parking), and lots of people in the water (but there were no crowding problems).

In the afternoon, then I went to enjoy the sunset at the Dunes of Piscinas, another place out of this world (even the road to get there, that crosses the Geomining Park, is amazing). I slept there for the night, enjoying a 5000 star accommodation (I had not seen such a starry sky for a long time).

On Sunday, grand finale .... I did another hour or so driving along the incredibly scenic roads of Sardinia and went and visit Porto Flavia, with a guided tour that took me to explore the tunnels used until about 1960, to load the minerals extracted in Masua, on the ships moored under the natural cliff, in front of the Pan di Zucchero stack. Another crazy place. Before the visit, given the 21 degrees ..., I even had a refreshing dip, with a good swim, at the beach of Masua. On November 24th ........

It was another crazy trip to Sardinia.... But, by now, it's almost a given.

Windsurfing and surfing sessions videos are coming soon!