article_snippet: We sit drooling on the sand and make a pact to be professional standard by the end of the week.
article_snippet: Thanks to its position in a thumb-shaped inlet, enclosed on three sides by mountains, this watery playground has this watery playground own weather system, which runs like clockwork during the summer.
article_snippet: A light onshore breeze sees the novices through until lunchtime.
article_snippet: By early afternoon, the heat pressure behind the western mountain has built up so the wind whooshes down into the bay.
article_snippet: On day one, Sam shows our how to climb on to the board, haul the sail up and do a static turn (wafting the sail across the back of the board to turn 180 degrees).
article_snippet: We all plop in the sea constantly, but it is bathwater warm with a sandy bottom.
article_snippet: our return at lunchtime to refuel
article_snippet: , then it's back to the water to practise.
article_snippet: More than 250 boards and sails are lined up for the taking, and when you traipse floppily off the water after your session, one of the beach staff magically appears to put it all back for you.
article_snippet: I throw in a bit of lingo about 'heli tacks' and 'duck gybes', but give the game away on the water the next morning when a girl from my table at dinner glides past and waves.
article_snippet: On we final, gusty afternoon I'm first on the water.
article_snippet: Leaning my full weight back against the sail, the board slices through the sea.