| What they are saying about
Vela Aruba....
Click
here to submit your comments
04/05/05
Just got back from Aruba with a record 22 days sailing!
Once again, the Vela Aruba crew was fantastic. The boards and sails were kept in great shape and I was always able to get the combination I wanted.
The instructors and equipment crew were friendly and great, always helpful with gear selection, tuning, and answering questions. After a long day on the water it's great to have the guys at the beach to help carry gear back.
Monique was wonderful working behind the desk, always having that cheery, friendly smile (now I've got to get her back from the dark side!).
Finally, thanks to Francois for keeping things well organized and for doing a great job on the vidoes.
This is our 17th time with Vela Aruba and things keep getting better. Thanks again for a great time.
Tom L.
Auburn, NY
03/27/05
Hello Folks,
Just returned from Vela, Aruba. Thanks for the hospitality displayed, the weather, the winds and the selection of equipment. I've concluded that six days is too short after a seven month layoff from windsurfing and any major conditioning. Next year it's 2 weeks. We'll be prepared for more advanced instruction and longer sessions. See you in '07.
Best Regards,
Dennis & Margo
Wilmette, IL
By the way, I forgot to get copies of Dasher's instructional videos. Could you either email or mail then to me? Please let me know.
---Glad you had a good time, Dennis. You can call the Vela 800 number to order Dasher's DVDs or videos.--- Tony
2/15/05
Hi everyone. Please keep the wind turned up high.
Alan arrives tonight; we arrive Friday night.
Yes, the February, Presidents' day week regulars are coming back!
Say hi to Terry and Franci and all the group.
See you soon.
Thanks,
Linda, Alan and Ben
West hartford, Connecticut
10/14/05
Just a week ago (10/7/05).....I was cruzin' the "Blue Highway". We had a week of no wind, but had a great time enjoying the rest of Aruba. On our last day following lunch, Eric ran up to me and said...."You can't leave Aruba without planning". He pointing me to his board and sail and said that he would pick me up on the outside at 4:00. He arrived at 4:20 to a tired, but happy windsurfer (a pure hour of planning)!! We look forward to returning during the "regular" season. Thanks Eric!!!
Dave & Kim Kirchner
Excelsior, MN
10/03/05
Incredible is all I can really say. GB, the water, however next time I will bring my passport in case I happen to surf to Venezuela. I will return very soon and looking forward to each moment of it.
Erica
Connecticut
8/12/05
There is no way that I can possibly convey what an incredible time we just had on Aruba. And Vela was the biggest part of our trip. We went there with the intention of windsurfing for the week, which we did and it was fabulous. But the surprise was that we decided to try kiteboarding, and ...Oh My God... What a blast! We're completely hooked. Mike and Mo are incredible instructors. Their knowledge, which is both intellectual and experiential, and enthusiasm for the sport are contagious. I can't tell you how much I miss the wind here in Austin. I just have to keep playing with it. We're buying equipment and taking road trips to South Padre as often as possible. I'm hooked. I highly recommend tackling this sport to anyone who is interested, and I can't think of a better place to do it than at Vela Aruba with Mike and Mo. It just might change your life! Thanks again to Mike and Mo and the entire staff at Vela Arub for making our Aug, 2005 trip the first of MANY amaz!
ing journeys!
Lisa and Jim
Austin, TX
4/19/05
My third time in four years to Vela Aruba, and this was the best 4/5-12/05. Great wind every day, great equipment, above all, the best staff! Thanks to Francois for the helpful tips and DVD. Monique was great with suggestions, and everyone was friendly and helpful. The dolphins and partial solar eclipse at sunset (could Francois email me that photo?) were nice added features! Can't wait until my next visit!
Rick Lusignea
Boston, MA
Hi, Got home late last
night. what a wonderful time. Great wind. On the
first day I was just happy to be there, the second
I was happy to be planing on a regular basis, by
the seventh day I had my jibes just about wired.......7
days, 7 windy days.....marvelous.
Karl Hitchcock
Woodstock
Thanks for teaching a middle-aged
woman to windsurf!! My grown kids are so proud of
me. It was easy (even the boat rescue when I surfed
out too far). I was floating across the water in
minutes, and I felt very comfortable. Didn't know
a thing about it and can't begin to boast about
the great conditions (May 2004)... I live in So.
California, been to Hawaii 3 times, but will definitely
return to Aruba just to windsurf again! And now
my husband wants to learn next time too with you
guys. Karen V.
Riverside, CA
My wife and I just returned
from our first trip to Aruba. We had a fantastic
time and are eager to return. We had seven days
of excellent wind after hearing reports that the
wind was light for many days. Francois and the crew
at Vela were very accomodating, friendly and fun
to be around. The equipment was in excellent condition
with plenty of options to choose from. We had a
great time at the video party, thanks to Tove for
shooting a fun video. Thanks again, hope to see
you soon.Dutch & Kathy Hayward
Albany, NY
Fantastic time windsurfing
in Aruba with Vela. Didn't know a thing about it
and I had exceeded my goals by the 1st day. Thanks
to the team at Vela who have all the equipment and
instructors to learn everything there is to know
about windsurfing. This is the perfect spot and
can't wait to go back.
E.J. Jones
Seattle
I had 4 fantastic strong
windy days and it was truely awsome. Thanks for
having the water jug on the custom made mini catemaran
in the bay! Great idea, as I was screaming back
and forth on a 5.0 and 105 liter JP board I was
completely "parshed" and dehydrated and it was super
to drink that nice cold icy water. Thanks to Francois
and to all the frienly staff. Until the next trip,
happy sailing all!
Cheers, Peter
Mclean VA.
Once Again, we had a fabulous
time, because Aruba is such a family friendly place
to windsurf. Vela's lessons for children are always
fun and successful. My children love to windsurf
in Aruba because of Vela's lessons! Teresa Ota
Salt Lake City, UT
We just returned from our
first trip to Aruba. A big THANKS to Francois and
the team at VELA for making our trip one of our
best vacations ever! The VELA team was friendly,
fun and accomodating. We really appreciated how
hard you guys worked to ensure that we had a blast.
Monique, Tove, GB and Mac..... thank you! We will
be back!
Marie Theobald and Michael Kerbaugh
Vela is the best! No vacation
is a REAL vacation unless there's wind and Vela!
Nick Loan
Penn Yan, NY
I just wanted to say a
few words about the week I spent windsurfing at
the Vela center from Aruba. Thank you to Mac and
GB for having given me a couple of lessons in order
to help me to enhance a few problems that I had.
Those two instructors are very professionels in
teaching and showing the ways to windsurf. Thank
you also to Mike, who tried to teach me to kite-surfing,
he has a lot of patience, keeping saying " don't
fight the kite", for sure I will remember that for
a long time.... So, see you guys next year.
Philippe from Geneva, Switzerland
Hello Vela Gang, Big thank
you to GB who rescued and kept my favorite earrings
safe from the azure depths of Aruba. Then, the sweetheart,
mailed them back to me in the US. I'll hopefully
be more careful next year. Thanks so much.
Taletta
We must admit that Vela
Aruba is on our mind at this time of year. We have
visited the last two years in May and we had two
of the most fantastic vacations ever - one of which
was our honeymoon. This year we went on a boating
trip through BVI with family instead. We had a really
fun time. We even sailed a bit while we were there
although we didn't find much wind. But in the backs
of our minds we were missing Aruba and Vela. I continue
to talk about making Vela Aruba an annual trip and
I know that J. agrees. The staff, the instruction,
the equipment, the setting, and the experience are
all worth raving about. So we hope to see you next
May - and every May after that! Thank you for everything.
You are a really special group of people!
Kim and J. Jardim Silverthorne, CO
Arrrgghh! What was I thinking???
I let my husband go to Aruba with a friend this
year, while I stayed home with the kids. Now it
is 40 degrees in Chicago, and I am checking your
wind reports, and getting his phone calls at night
about the great day he's had! I need an emergency
trip! (but thanks for making sure he has had another
great week, even if I am not there too--he'll owe
me big after this!) See you next spring--all of
us this time!
Karen, Chicago
Hello Vela, Just wanted
to let you know we had another great time at Vela
Aruba (our 3rd). The entire staff was great, the
equipment top notch and the winds, while not howling
(OK for me), were there in the afternoons. Really
what a great place. You make it so easy to sail
and learn more. We tried (and bought) new harnesses,
used the tandem board, and managed to get callouses
on the palms of our hands. Our 10 year old got in
his harness for the first time and is working on
foot straps. What fun. We love to windsurf and it
is so hard not to want to come back here every year.
Thanks.-
Montgomery Family
Hi Guys, I just wanted
to report that my wife and I have just returned
from our 10th trip to Aruba. It was also our most
enjoyable, if that's possible. I have rented my
equipment from Vela throughout those 10 years and
have always found the staff to be friendly and helpful.
This year I would like to extend a special thankyou
to Monique for her assistance. Keep up the good
work! - John, Ottowa
Dear Vela Management,
Thanks for another wonderful windsurfing vacation
experience in Aruba. This was our second time at
Vela Aruba and your staff there outdid themselves...again.
Not only are they cordial and accomodating but their
instruction is the best we've found -- and believe
me, I'm a teaching challenge. It really struck home
just how satisfied we were when my wife declared,
"Let's make this an annual event." And
I had to agree. To clarify just a bit, these folks
are pros at doing what many in the travel industry
find so difficult; 1. Making guests feel welcome;
2. Keeping things organized; 3. Doing their jobs
as if they enjoy them; 4. Adding their own personal
touches to the way they deliver service. If only
the flight attendents' union for United Airlines
could figure it all out..but that's another tale
all together... A goodly measure of the success
story is, no doubt, due Dasher; he's really imbued
the whole group with a team mentality. But a lot
of credit is also due the whole staff, who variously
showed initiative and good humor in the face of
all kinds of challenges. As a former travel writer
and currently a communications consultant who has
worked on travel industry accounts (Budget Rent
a Car, Holiday Inn, Hyatt Hotels, United Airlines),
I know how special an operation like this one truly
is. So, I just thought I'd compliment you on the
quality of the service and the value the whole package
represented to us. Please keep up the good work.
Looks like we'll be seeing a lot of each other.
Sincerely,
Phil Lanier
It's really cool how in
a matter of seconds all you guys make us feel relaxed
and at home; regardless if we think we are Bjorn
Dunkerbeck or Joe Blow. By now I imagine you have
forgotten what it feels like to put your feet (and
stay) in the footstraps in a solid plane for the
first time. Undescribable. Something like skiing
untracked powder. Really, every time I plane l'll
remember the 1st, 2nd gear stuff from our footstrap
lesson. Thanks a lot. As you might have already
noticed, in terms of repeat customer you guys got
me!! See you guys soon.
Roberto Waddington (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Well,the trip I waited
all year for is over once again. I didn't think
it was possible but I had an even better time this
trip. We had a great time at Carnival, playing putt
putt golf and at the Kakoa club just to name a few.
It was great sailing on the blue highway. I wish
I would've went out there sooner. I'm really going
to miss Aruba and everyone at the Huts. I hope to
be back next year. The Vela staff is wonderful and
made our trip very enjoyable.
Colleen of Kirkland, WA
ukey, the freestyle was
fun in light winds, and when it did blow we still
had a great time. Sailing 10 days out of 10 in late
August can't be too bad a record... The 'Watch'
video is well played already !! Thanks again
Roger Walland of Plano TX
It's been a few years since I have been to Aruba,
however I often reflect on Dasher's great gifts
of teaching, partying and enjoying life. I recently
married my wife in Beijing China and hope to bring
her down to Vela Aruba sometime next year to learn
windsurfing from the best. Hi to Charles D --Michael
Thompson (one time Aruba windsurfing rat pack member)
To the crew at Vela Aruba.
Thanks for a brilliant time over the last two weeks
which made our holiday one of the best. In taking
five lessons I went from a reasonable beginner to
one of the fastest people on the water (...in my
'modest' opinion). I am able to deepwater start,
get in the footstraps and am starting to jibe -
actions before I had only dreamed about. Over the
years I have had coaching in many sports and can
say with confidence that Vela's teaching is top
class. I would recommend the Vela center in Aruba
to all standards of sailor: not only will you improve
at windsurfing but you'll also have a seriously
good laugh. Thanks again - James and Sarah of Oxford,
England
Submit your Comments and
Feedback
|
