Heya,
Thanks to the shape of the bay, Vasiliki bay is unusually windy. But this week was unusually windy, even for Vasiliki. We were all chuffed. Partly because we all had a fab time windsurfing, partly because the guests were happy, but mainly because we got to watch people chasing their parasols, lilos and beach balls down the bay all week.
Today was an especially good display. It was probably the best day of wind we’ve had all summer. From the moment we woke up, it was, as people say here, ‘full power’, or ‘nuking’, or, ‘sendy ba-bendy’, and it continued to ‘nuke’ all day, blowing 30 knots or so across the beach.
It made for some fantastic windsurfing, and for some real spectacles. All day, people in rubber rings, on lilos or on paddleboards whizzed downwind. At one point, a beach tent took off and flew into the sea. It was retrieved and firmly weighed down, but moments later, the poles snapped under the relentless pressure of the wind.
I saw a 6 foot long, clear plastic lilo whizzing through the air like some kind of spectre, and moments later, a teenage boy jogging after it without much conviction. The bay here is very long indeed, and a lilo could fly an awfully long way before it finds something to block its path. Sure enough, it was a full 30 minutes later that I saw him walking past me again, lilo in arms, struggling to battle the headwind.
The owner of a rather nice ‘outdoorsy’ parasol was looking pleased after his extensive efforts to dig in the base of the umbrella saw it bearing the brunt of the wind without the slightest hint of a wobble. Alas, when I looked back at him later that afternoon, the parasol itself had disintegrated: the fabric was detached from the frame but for a single central point, and was flapping like a windsock; the ribs were splayed and bent. The owner was now gathering his things.
All a lot of fun to watch. Someone should tell them that this is the only beach on the island that gets windy. Until they find that out, the show will continue most afternoons or evenings.
Looking forward to hearing what you’ve been up to this week.
Love
James
p.s. since this week was proper windy and I had a cold I didn’t take any pics soz. someone took one of me tho.
