Beginner windsurfing in Somone takes place between lagoon and ocean, on a calm sea with steady wind, with an instructor and equipment provided. No level is required and the activity is open from age 10, with personalised supervision.

Learning on calm water

The session starts on the beach, with a presentation of the equipment and a reminder of the safety rules. The instructor explains the basics: foot position, orienting the board, handling the wind. The exercises then take place in a shallow area near the lagoon: you learn to stand up, to hoist the sail and to steer gently. You start in the calmest area, before, for those who progress, venturing towards the mouth.

The equipment and the instructor are included. The youngest can take part from age 10, with lighter equipment. The recommended time is the morning, when the wind is gentle and the sea calm: windsurfing is a wind sport, and beginners start in the most sheltered area. Bring a swimsuit, towel, sun cream and water. The session suits children from age 10 as much as adults who have never held a sail.

Somone, a lagoon to start on

Somone is a village on an estuary where the sea and the river meet, about ten kilometres south of Saly. The lagoon, a community nature reserve, gives the setting its softness: mangrove trees, migratory birds and golden light on the water. If you live in Dakar, it is a weekend spot to learn without the crowds; if you are visiting, a calm counterpoint to the neighbouring resort. The page on the Somone lagoon details the mangrove and the birds.

Extending the session

After the board, you can have lunch in a restaurant on stilts, visit the bird reserve or head to Ngaparou. Other ways of gliding on the surface are possible: paddle and kayak, towed sports or surfing. The Petite Côte also offers pirogue rides for a change of pace.