Friday, March 21, 2025

Windsurfing in Bonaire

Friday, March 21, 2025  , ,  No comments

As an avid windsurfer and wing foiler, I have always wanted to visit the best windsurfing spots in the world. Bonaire, a small island in the southern Caribbean, was always rated as one of the best windsurfing destinations to visit. There was never enough time to go there, and flights to Bonaire tend to be quite expensive and inconvenient.

However, my wife convinced me that I should take the plunge and try out Bonaire. After some research, I found a highly recommended Sorobon Beach Luxury Beach Resort located right at the best windsurfing spot in Lac Bay. The resort reviews on Booking.com were quite favorable.

I found garden view rooms available for $329/night and booked 8 nights, from Saturday, March 22 - Sunday, March 30. I had a choice of ocean view rooms for $449 per night, but I felt that I didn't need the view, as I would be windsurfing all day, anyway.

  • Studio Garden View - $329 (available from March 23rd)
    • Max. 2 adults/children
    • 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
  • Beach House
    • Max. 2 adults/children (additional guests possible with surcharge)
    • 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
    • Ocean View Beach House - $449
    • Ocean Front Beach House - $499
    • Premium Ocean Front Beach House - $549
  • Kas Chicitu - $599
    • Max. 4 adults/children
    • 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
    • Private garden with sunbeds

All accommodations include:

  • A personal and warm welcome from the Sorobon team
  • A bottle of wine and water to start your stay in a relaxing way
  • Beach access, including use of beach butler service, cabanas, and lounge beds
  • 20% discount on your windsurf rental gear at Dunkerbeck Pro Center -> can be booked during arrival
  • Free shuttle service to Sorobon Bay Hotel, including free use of the swimming pool
  • Snorkeling equipment
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Beach and bath towels
  • Welcome gift

 

Our accommodations exclude:

  • Tourist Entry Tax of $75, payable at the airport
  • TIL (Tourist Improvement Levy) of $3 per person per night (from 4 years old)
  • Breakfast or all inclusive formula  -> breakfast can be pre-booked at $24 per adult instead of $28
  • Airport transfer 

I still had not made up my mind regarding pre-purchasing meals. Breakfast is $24/day, while all-inclusive breakfast/lunch/dinner is $200/person. Windsurfing rental at Dunkerbeck Pro Center was $400 / 6 days.

I messaged Louisa Singelee (the Sorobon resort manager) and had to reserve and pay for the entire reservation before arrival. Louisa could be contacted by both WhatsApp and email. 

I also found and booked a red-eye Delta Airlines flight with a stop in Atlanta as follows:

  • 3/21/25 23:55 Delta 690 SFO to ATL (arriving 07:24)
  • 3/22/25 09:45 Delta 1645 ATL to BON (arriving 13:44)

On the return flight, I booked the following flights back to San Francisco:

  • 3/30/25 15:09 Delta 1764 BON to ATL (arriving 19:50)
  • 3/30/25 21:59 Delta 656 ATL to SFO (arriving Monday, 0:22)


Friday, March 21, 2025

I packed my carry-on luggage with shorts and T-shirts. I also decided to bring the O'Neil shortie wetsuit (just in case) and a helmet with a GoPro mount (for recording videos). Note that the shortie was never needed.

Inna and I drove to the San Francisco airport in our Tesla Model Y, arriving at 21:50. However, there was road construction on the US-101 freeway, and we were slightly delayed.

I went through TSA Pre-check fairly quickly and sat by gate C-9, waiting for my Delta Boeing 737-900 airplane. It was parked at the gate and waiting for the crew.

Delta Flight #690 departed on time from San Francisco and landed at Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport at 07:15. The flight was completely full and mostly smooth. I dozed off a few times but did not sleep.


Saturday, March 22, 2025

When I landed in Atlanta, I was surprised to find that the gate to my connecting flight to Bonaire  (E32) was right next to the gate where I landed.

As it was early morning, I decided to look for a nice coffee shop or a bakery for an early morning breakfast. I managed to find a food court nearby, but the fast-food restaurants there did not excite my interest. There was McDonald's, Via Pizza, Caribou Coffee, and Arby's. I tried to find something palatable, but nothing tempted me. I decided to skip breakfast and eat at Bonaire instead.

I waited by Gate E32 for our flight to depart for Bonaire. I boarded with boarding group 6 and sat at 23C on the Boeing 737-900. The flight was fairly smooth, but we encountered some turbulence before landing.

I started reading Rudyard Kipling's Captain Courageous on my Kindle.

Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling is a coming-of-age adventure novel published in 1897. It follows the transformation of Harvey Cheyne Jr., a spoiled 15-year-old son of a wealthy railroad tycoon, who falls overboard from a luxury liner in the North Atlantic and is rescued by a Portuguese fisherman aboard the fishing schooner We're Here. Unable to convince the crew of his wealth or persuade them to return him to port immediately, Harvey is forced to work alongside the fishermen for an entire season138.

Initially resentful, Harvey gradually learns the value of hard work, humility, and teamwork under the guidance of Dan Troop, the captain's son. He becomes an integral part of the crew, managing ship accounts and gaining respect. The novel vividly portrays life aboard a 19th-century fishing schooner, showcasing maritime practices and the dangers of the sea13.

When We're Here returns to Gloucester, Massachusetts, Harvey reunites with his parents, who are astonished by his maturity. As a gesture of gratitude, Harvey's father rewards Manuel, the fisherman who saved him, and offers Dan Troop a position in his business empire. Harvey prepares to attend Stanford University to eventually take over his father's shipping enterprise13.

The novel explores themes such as personal growth, mentorship, class differences, and self-reliance. It contrasts privilege with the rugged life at sea and celebrates the transformative power of hard work and community

While on the plane, I watched the Bob Dylan biopic - A Complete Unknown - on my iPad Pro. Timothée Chalamet played the part of Bob Dylan very believably.

"A Complete Unknown" is a 2024 biographical musical drama directed by James Mangold, chronicling Bob Dylan's rise from a young folk musician to a cultural icon during the early 1960s. The film, starring Timothée Chalamet as Dylan, focuses on his journey to New York City, his relationships with key figures like Woody Guthrie, Joan Baez, and Sylvie Russo, and the controversy surrounding his transition to electric music at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.

Plot Overview

  • The story begins in 1961 with Dylan hitchhiking to New York to meet his idol, Woody Guthrie. He quickly integrates into the folk music scene with the help of Pete Seeger (Edward Norton).

  • Dylan's career takes off after meeting manager Albert Grossman and collaborating with Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro), though his personal relationships—especially with girlfriend Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning)—suffer due to his ambition and aloofness.

  • The film culminates in Dylan's controversial decision to go electric at Newport, symbolizing his break from traditional folk expectations and asserting his artistic independence.

Key Performances

  • Timothée Chalamet delivers a transformative performance as Dylan, performing all his own singing and guitar playing.

  • Monica Barbaro shines as Joan Baez, capturing her complex dynamic with Dylan.

  • Elle Fanning portrays Sylvie Russo with emotional depth, evoking sympathy as she navigates her tumultuous relationship with Dylan.

  • Edward Norton brings warmth and gravitas as Pete Seeger.

Reception

The film has been widely praised for its performances, music, and historical context. It earned eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and acting nods for Chalamet, Norton, and Barbaro. Critics lauded its portrayal of Dylan's artistic evolution while noting it avoids delving deeply into his personal psyche.

We landed in Bonaire's Kralendijk and disembarked from the plane. The heat hit me immediately as I passed through passport control. Once outside, I found my shuttle driver, and he drove me to the Sorobon Luxury Beach Resort.  The drive over took only 10 minutes, and I checked into Sorobon at 14:05.

I immediately noticed the poorly paved roads and the desert landscape of Bonaire. It's not like any other island I have visited.

I was shown my Ocean View room #21, where I dropped off my backpack and carry-on roller bag. I quickly unloaded my bag and then went to lunch at Reef Bar (Sorobon's Dining Facility). 

After sitting down and looking at the menu, I ordered the following items at Reef Bar:

  • Drinks: Coffee, water
  • Appetizer: Chicken Skewers (Yakatori, Wasabi, Sesame)
  • Main: Smoked Salmon Sandwich

I really enjoyed the Chicken Skewers and the Smoked Salmon Sandwich. The service was a bit slow.

After lunch, I stopped by the Dunkerbeck Pro Center to rent my windsurfing gear for the week. I signed up for 6 days of rentals (with a 20% discount for staying at Sorobon Luxury Beach Resort). I also added $10/day insurance (to protect against breaking a fin or damaging a sail). The total cost was $420 for 6 days.

The gear that was chosen for me was the following:

  • Goya Volar 100 freeride board
  • Severne Freek 5.7m sail with Severne boom (heavy)

I windsurfed for about an hour, being extra careful to avoid the reefs in the shallow regions of Lac Bay. There were hundreds of windsurfers, and I was surprised by the sheer number. The Caribbean was warm, and I did not need a shortie at all.

I was working on getting used to windsurfing (after spending the last 3 years mostly wing foiling). I did not attempt any jibes due to the crowded nature of sailing, but I plan to try later this week. I was tired after an hour and returned my gear. I had an awesome first day!

After windsurfing, I returned to my room and took a shower, hanging all of my wet clothes to dry (and relax). I also spent some time exploring the area and found that Sorobon Beach (due north of Sorobon Resort) had deep water for wing foiling.

Jibe City next door also rented windsurfing gear, but it did not look superior to what was offered at Dunkerbeck Pro Center.

For dinner, I stopped by Reef Bar and ordered from the menu:

  • Drinks: Sparkling Water
  • Appetizer: Tuna Tartare
  • Main: Catch of the Day (Chilean Seabass) with Noodles & Asian vegetables

The Tuna Tartare was excellent, and the Chilean Seabass was also delicious.

After dinner, I relaxed in my Oceanview room #21 and finished watching A Complete Unknown on the iPad. 

Sunday, March 23, 2024

I set the alarm for 07:00 but was really tired when I awoke, so I slept some more. The 3-hour time difference and missing a night's sleep did me in.

Eventually, at 07:50, I got up, showered, shaved, and dressed. I missed the 07:30 Yoga and decided to eat breakfast first. I stopped by Reef Bar (noticing a few windsurfers out already) and sat down at a table.

I ordered the following breakfast items:

  • Chefs Selection: Egg of the Day | Croissant | Artisanal bread | Cold cuts | Yoghurt | Fruit
  • Orange Juice, Coffee
The breakfast was fabulous, and I enjoyed the Egg of the Day, the yogurt with honey, and cold cuts. What a fantastic way to start the day! The only annoyance was the mosquitoes buzzing around (and I had applied bug spray).

I returned to my room, changed into windsurfing gear, and walked over to the Dunkerbeck Pro shop. Initially, I started windsurfing on a Goya Volar 110-liter board with a Goya 5.4m sail, but it turned out to be too much. The wind was gusting to 25+ knots, and I was way overpowered and out of control.

I sailed back to the Dunkerbeck Pro shop and swapped for the following gear:
  • Goya One Pro 94-liter Freewave (tri-fin) board
  • Goya 4.7m sail
I sailed for one hour using this combination and felt much more in control. It was harder to get the Goya One Pro Freewave board planing, but it handled the chop better (and spun out less).

After I finished windsurfing, I returned to my room, took a shower, and decided to eat lunch at the Reef Bar. I ordered the following items:
  • Appetizer: Bread with tzatziki sauce
  • Main: Salmon Poke
  • Drinks: Sparkling water
The fresh Salmon Poke was excellent (better than Hawaiian Poke on Kauai), and I enjoyed it a lot!
After lunch, I decided to try getting a replacement GoPro adapter. I found that Dive Friends Bonaire @ Retail & Dive sold GoPro cameras and accessories, and decided to see whether I could order a taxi to take me there.

My receptionist at Sorobon was able to order a taxi (round-trip cost=$50 USD). In about 15 minutes, I was headed to Dive Friends Bonaire. On the way there, I noticed a large cruise ship docked - Celebrity Beyond. I noticed some new housing being built on the west side of the island (probably to avoid the strong easterly winds).

At Dive Friends, I looked for the exact GoPro buckle with thumb screw but the closest I could find was the waterproof housing. It was $75 ($40 on Amazon), but it was cheaper than buying a whole new GoPro Hero 13 ($450). So, I purchased the housing and used the parts to attach my GoPro to my helmet. It turned out great, as on my next windsurfing session, I was able to record my windsurfing session!

After I returned to my room, I quickly changed into my windsurfing gear and walked back to the Dunkerbeck Pro shop. I chose the following gear:
It was a perfect combo of board and sail, as I had a fantastic time sailing back and forth in Lac Bay. The tide was going low, so I had to be careful, watching for underwater reefs. Fortunately, I did not hit anything. The GoPro recorded everything well, too! I sailed for 1.5 hours and was thoroughly exhausted.

I returned to #21 and packed my bags to move to Studio #3 (this was to save money on the weekly rental as the studio is much cheaper than the Ocean View cottage ($329 vs $449). The Ocean View cottage had very little of the Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) to see (and I don't miss it).

For dinner, I stopped by Reef Bar and ordered the following from the menu:
  • Drinks: Sparkling Water
  • Appetizer: Ceviche
  • Main: Pasta Seafood
The Ceviche was excellent, and the Pasta Seafood was tenderly prepared.

Since I started watching The Apprentice, a while back (on a flight to Zurich), I decided to finish the movie.
It was an interesting film and I liked it.


Monday, March 24, 2025

I woke up at 08:00, sore with a few blisters on my hands (from all the windsurfing). I decided to get breakfast and decided whether or not to windsurf today, to give my hands time to heal.

I stopped by Reef Bar and sat down at a table overlooking the beach. I ordered the following breakfast items:

  • Chefs Selection: Egg of the Day | Croissant | Artisanal bread | Cold cuts | Yogurt | Fruit
  • Orange Juice, Coffee

The breakfast was excellent as usual. Few people were eating, and even fewer were windsurfing. Perhaps a lot of people flew out on Sunday.

There was a slight sprinkling (but the weather forecast called for more wind). I walked around the property but there is only a small section of beach that is accessible.

I decided to windsurf some more and stopped by the Dunkerbeck Pro Center. The wind was backing off a bit, so I was told that a larger sail and board would be best. I chose the following equipment:

The Starboard Kode 115 and the Severne Freek 5.8m sail were a great combination, and I enjoyed a fantastic 90 minutes of windsurfing in paradise. I even completed my first successful jibe! I decided to stop after getting tired. Low tide was at 17:00, and I was told to avoid windsurfing past 14:00 to minimize the chances of hitting underwater rocks.

After returning my gear, I took a shower and rested. I decided to stop by for lunch at the Reef Bar. I ordered the following items:

  • Appetizer: Bread with tzatziki sauce
  • Main: Salmon Poke
  • Drinks: Sparkling water
It was all very delicious, but the service was a bit slow. I also stopped by the hotel's main desk, as my safe lost power and would not open, and my mini-fridge was lacking ice trays.

For dinner, I stopped by the Reef Bar and ordered the following:
  • Drinks: Sparkling water
  • Appetizer: Bruschetta (Mushroom, tomato, toast)
  • Main: Pasta Seafood (shrimp, bisque, parsley)
I initially ordered Gazpacho for an appetizer, but it was no longer available. I ordered Bruschetta in its place, and the Bruschetta was delicious. The Pasta Seafood was also delicious.

It was very windy, gusting to 30+ knots, and I was worried that my food might get blown away. Thankfully, it did not.

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

I woke up at 07:00, sore with a few blisters on my hands (from all the windsurfing). After showering and shaving, I decided to get breakfast.

I stopped by Reef Bar and sat down at a table overlooking the beach. I ordered the following breakfast items:

  • Farmer's Omelet (on bread)
  • Coffee
I decided for a simpler breakfast as the Chef's Choice breakfast is just too big! The Famer's Omelet was unique - as it was served on a large piece of bread.

I had a windsurfing jibe lesson with an instructor planned for 10:00. I stopped by the Dunkerbeck Pro Shop and talked to my scheduled instructor. When it came time for the lesson, the wind was unusually light and unfavorable to practicing carve jibes. The instructor offered me to reschedule for another day or time, and I decided to reschedule for 10:00 on Wednesday.

I decided to try windsurfing anyway, and selected the following gear:
I decided to try windsurfing barefoot (I like it!) and tried to get planing. I was able to catch a few gusts and get planing on a few runs, but the wind was very inconsistent. After about an hour, I decided to finish and rest, hoping for an afternoon session when the wind picks up.

I decided to eat an early lunch, in case the wind picked up later in the afternoon. I stopped by Reef Bar and ordered some drinks (as the lunch menu was not available until 12:00). I ordered a small Stella Artois (0.25cl) beer and a large (0.75cl) sparkling water.
  • Drinks: Stella Artois Beer (draft), Sparkling water
  • Main: Salmon Poke
As I was drinking and eating, I observed the windsurfers and wing foilers. The wind has dropped off a lot, and only a few wing foilers were planing. I thought to rest a bit and then go out windsurfing with a focus on practicing light wind maneuvers such as tacks and jibes.

The Sorobon hotel messaged me about fixing my safe, and a receptionist came by with the key to open it. It turned out that the safe battery fell out. It's now working fine.

At around 13:30, I decided to work on my light wind jibes and headed to the Dunkerbeck Pro Shop. This time, I selected light wind gear, as I wanted something light and stable. I selected the following:
I spent the next 2.5 hours practicing light-wind jibes and occasional tacks. Initially, I was always falling in but I gradually started to make progress. My hands are full of blisters now. There is no easy or painless way to develop windsurfing calluses.

For dinner, I stopped by Reef Bar and ordered the following items:
  • Drinks: Sparkling Water
  • Appetizer:  Gazpacho
  • Main: Catch of the Day (Wahoo)
The Gazpacho was a bit too sweet, but the Catch of the Day (Wahoo) was pretty good.

I started watching the movie A Real Pain about mismatched cousins who reunite for a Poland tour, to honor their beloved grandmother.


Wednesday, March 26, 2025



Sorobon Beach Resort Bonaire Review

Highlights

  • Windsurfing on Lac Bay is phenomenal
  • Eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Sorobon's Reef Bar
  • Surprised by the number of Dutch tourists. It's a long way from the Netherlands

Lowlights

  • Roads are in poor condition (and badly maintained)
  • No Uber or Lyft (or any other ride-sharing service)
    • A taxi can be pre-ordered from the hotel, but it is expensive (does not use a meter)
  • Mosquitos come out in the morning and evening (bug spray is recommended)
  • There is not much nightlife or live music (like in Honolulu)
  • Difficult to find GoPro parts (but I managed to find a Dive Shop that had some)

Bonaire Notes

  • Best time for strong, consistent wind on Lac Bay: February and March
    • There are long periods of no wind even during the windy months (even in March)
    • I got lucky with the wind (as the previous two weeks had no wind at all)
  • A/C sockets use European (French) standards. Bring European plug adapters
  • Currency: U.S. Dollars
  • Taxis: very limited, pre-order ahead of time. Uber & Lyft do not exist. Cars available to rent
  • Google Fi: works using the international plan
  • Dunkerbeck Pro Center does not currently rent wing foiling gear (but other nearby shops have a limited selection)

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