Hi has anyone spent anytime in morocco windsurfing,
wondering what is the best time of year for the combination of swell and wind. going for waves so the wind doesn't have to be howling just around 20 knots and cross off..
anyone know anything about this???
For Moulay (the most popular wave spot) - generally the wind is best in summer (July and August are windiest). Swell tends to be best in spring and autumn (I know a few guys who were getting mast + in september) but the wind can be a bit more hit and miss. You'll still get decent swell in summer but it won't be epic.
Not sure about the rest of the country.
Essaouira is on a wide bay with good wind, wide beach, and ~2-4 ft chop. I'm not sure when it's best, but google should know that. There's 2 board/sail/kite rental places by the beach.
I also heard good things about waaay South in Morocco (Mauritania, where the Sahara desert meets the Atlantic). Good thermal winds apparently, but it's a bloody long way from Marrakesh.
Essaouira, Sidi Kaouki, Moulay are all best around June/ July/ August... you can get wind on either end but it's less unreliable.
I was in Essaouira around the end of April... they had 20 - 30 knts for a week straight before I got there... nothing for 5 days while I was there... then another 20 - 30 knts as we were driving back to Cassablanca to fly out.
Sidi Kouki (approx. 25 kms south from Essaouira) is a bit windier and would have been good on those days when there was not enough wind in Essaouira.
When I was there (Essaouira) they had a Mistral centre (which was ****) but apparently has improved (a German guy I know took over as manager and sorted things out apparently). There was also a Fanatic place not far from the Club Mistral.
There is supposedly rental in Sidi Kaouki but not much infrastructure. The same goes for Moulay.
The spots further south rohjar is talking about are pretty awesome but when I was there in a couple of years ago it wasn't considered safe to travel alone by car. Then again, we rented a car in Fez and drove inland down to the Western Sahara... then via the three gorges to the Atlas mountains south of Marrakesh. Spent a few days in Marrakesh then another 5 days in Essouira before driving back to Cassablanca for a flight out.
There were plenty of police check points along the way and some areas looked pretty iffy. That's said no different to travelling on some areas of south east asia... we found that 99.9% of the time people were pretty friendly and overall we had a great time.
Just keep your street smarts... btw, you'll be offered a bucket load of hashish and other "herbal plants" at the beach in Essouira... it's generally a good idea to say "no thanks"... quite often the guys selling the stuff are undercover police and the penalties for tourists are generally in the form of hefty fines.
Here's some details on the new mistral station in Essaouira
The spot in Essaouira
Essaouira is a perfect all round spot. All three sports - windsurfing, kitesurfing and surfing - are offered all year. In addition, the spot is ideal for wave novices. The slightly descending, sandy bottom and a shallow water area near the shore enable a comfortable launch. During low tide the sea pulls back about 150 metres, which makes the way to the water edge longer. Other wave spots like Moulay and Sidi Kaouki (20 minutes drive) give variety and make sure that you never get bored! The centre organises excursions to the wave spots upon request. Even if the water temperate (17-20 ?C) cannot be compared to the Carribean, Essaouira offers appealing conditions, ample space and an 80% wind guarantee.
Wind and waves
The wind blows sideshore from the right. Some days it is a bit gusty and turns slightly offshore at wind speeds of more than 7 Beaufort. Between June and August the thermal enforces the trade wind, creating more challenging conditions for kitesurfers. Downwind of the centre, the wave conditions are particularly great in spring and autumn (1-2 metres). Due to the strong wind, the waves are slightly smaller from mid June to August (0.5-1 metres). Beginners and speed surfers are in good hands further upwind of the bay
Full details:http://www.club-mistral.com/en/destinations/news/18/134
The manager is a guy by the name of Felix.
He used to run the Club Mistral in Le Morne Mauritius and is a good bloke.
I would suggest dropping him an email through the club mistral site and asking about some of the specifics of the spot.
He should also be able to let you know about the beer they serve there... he's fond of a beer or two 
Kev
cheers guys,
yeah i'm thinking of going for 2 months and for surfing as much as windsurfing. thinking september, october next year.. i head the swell is pretty good that time of year.
anyone know anything about buying cars there?? or hiring 4x4s i'm pretty keen on the south part. i hear it gets epic and no crowds at all if you have the 4x
wheres the place off the windsurfing movie or is it a shhhhhhhhhhhhhh secret spot.
that palce looked all time 
If you go to Sidi or Moulay make sure you take some small sails! The whole time I was there I being blown off the water on a 4.2m (weighing in at approx 90kgs at the time). Most used sails were 3.2m's.
Awesome place, well worth going.
Just read a article in this months Boards magazine, i say this months its more like last but its new for here
