Madagascar or known as the Malagasy Republic, the 4th largest island country, is located in the Indian Ocean just in the opposite of Africa’s mainland and the country of Mozambique. The huge island is famous for its high biodiversity, but not yet for windsurfing. Several well known windsurfers travelled there in the past. Andy Wolff, Klaas Voget, Thomas Traversa & Sophia Regerbis, Uli Hölzl or lately, in 2013, Graham Ezzy. There are great spots located at the southern and northern end of the island. We got in contact with a real Magascar local with Geoffrey Billy Gaspard, who lives in Antsiranana, in the north of Madagascar. He told us a bit more about his homespot, the Bay of Sakalava. Read more about a remote, but very windy and wavy spot, which offers 4,5m conditions and waves during 8 months in a year.
Travelling there needs a bit of time and money, but you can combine it with a trip to South Africa, Mauritius, Kenya or Mozambique.
Geoffey-Billy-Gaspard, the local from Antsiranana, Madagascar.
Continentseven: Tell us a bit about you?
Geoffrey Billy Gaspard: I am from Madagascar half French and Malagasy. I am 18 and I’ve been recently the first international Malagasy windsurfer. I live in Cape Town, South Africa now for my studies and I am organizing a contest in Madagascar at the same time. My parents are running a guest house with 7 rooms for 14 people and I want to welcome people from everywhere to my country. Madagascar is not really known yet as a good spot. I invited Graham Ezzy and hires a cameraman from Germany. We did a really sick movie, which will be online soon.
Continentseven: Where is the spot located on Madagascar?
Geoffrey Billy Gaspard: My hometown is Diego Suarez or Antsiranana. 2 names are existing. We have 4 spots. I have discovered a new one in April. You will see that in Graham’s movie and in my short clip the spot is called Bay of Sakalava. We have wind from mid April until end of November between 15 and 40 knots every day, non stop.
Continentseven: How are the main conditions looking like and what is the most used gear size there? Is there wind and are there waves all around the year or are there specific wind periods during the year?
Geoffrey Billy Gaspard: The waves are like 1 to 3 meters, depending on the spots. The most used gear size is between 3.7 to 5.0 m. I always sail with 4.5m. The port tack is like Hawaii.
Continentseven: At which airport the people will arrive?
Geoffrey Billy Gaspard: You first will arrive at Antananarivo at the Ivato airport, the capital of Madagascar and then you will take a connection flight from Antananarivo to Diego Suarez, which takes 1h10min.
Maps of Madagascar
Continentseven: How is the infrastructure at the spot?
Geoffrey Billy Gaspard: At the spot there is not a lot infrastructure. The best thing there is, that not a lot of people are riding the waves. You have a lot of space to progress and ride.
Watch the latest clip from Geoffey Billy Gaspard:
GREAT BILLY 😉