DAY TRIPPERS: COCO FOVEAU AND MORGAN NOIREUX
Coco Foveau and Morgan Noireaux trade their winter base in Guadeloupe for a last minute day trip to explore La Désirade. With windsurfing on the agenda and adventure in their veins, Coco’s vlog captures every epic moment of their island-hopping mission!
Coco Foveau
“Apparently, the first and last time I visited La Désirade, I was still in my mom’s belly. Today, at 25 years old, I find myself returning, this time with my windsurfing gear under my arm.
The decision was made the night before at 8:30 PM. A local windsurfer messaged Morgan and me, suggesting a quick trip because the forecast was perfectly aligned for us to score some great conditions. This pirate of the sea has clients scattered across the different islands of Guadeloupe, and whenever Windguru gives the green light, he takes advantage of his work trips to squeeze in a session at these unique spots. As soon as his work mission is completed, he swaps his dress shirt for a lycra top.
The plan was simple: take the 8 AM COMADILE ferry from St. François with our gear, walk 200 meters upwind from the dock, drop our bags under a small shelter on a paradisiacal beach, enjoy the conditions until exhaustion, grab a meal at a local restaurant. Then, as soon as we see the ferry approaching the coast, we pack up and board at 4 PM to return to Guadeloupe. A full day of disconnection, putting the routine on hold.
With 18-22 knots of East-Southeast wind and an East swell forecasted, it was clearly the long-awaited green light for this little adventure. Sure, these were also perfect conditions to simply stay and sail at St. Anne, Guadeloupe’s go-to port tack spot, but Morgan and I were craving a change. And so, the night before, we found ourselves booking last-minute tickets.
Super excited for the adventure, I brought my 72-liter Flikka board, and since I couldn’t decide, I packed both my 4.7 and 4.2 Seal Gunsails to make the most of the conditions.
A key detail about me: I’m still recovering from a concussion. A year and eight months post-accident, I continue to deal with daily challenges. That morning, I wasn’t feeling 100%, but I preferred to go at my own pace rather than cancel everything altogether.
The crossing takes an hour, but it was far from smooth sailing. I should have known when I saw the crew discreetly tucking plastic bags into their pockets. Clearly, my body had a flashback to whatever it endured as a fetus on my last visit. But I consoled myself with the thought that the rougher the crossing, the bigger the waves at the spot. First challenge complete, and I can proudly say that I made it to solid ground with my breakfast still in my stomach.
Two hundred meters later, we arrived at the beach—no one around except a few local fishermen and five windsurfers eager to make the most of the day. The wind was already there: 17 knots, slightly side-on port tack, with shoulder-high waves in the sets. Not a cloud in the sky, a textbook tropical beach scene with white sand and turquoise water. Several waves were breaking, but the one we picked—seemingly the least prone to closing out—was near the entrance buoy of the port. The trip was absolutely worth it; that wave reminded me how much I still have to improve! The timing was tricky to figure out, but once you got it, you had to absorb some chop and open your sail just right to maintain speed for the top turn. Perfect—time for a session of bent knees and side-on wave riding.
Then came the intrusive thoughts and seasickness, which I can no longer ignore since my recovery began. My body was calling for a nap. So, I curled up inside the board bag and had one of the best naps of my life in an absolutely stunning setting. Am I trying to put a positive spin on the frustration of not being able to sail as much as I wanted? Maybe—but negative emotions aren’t great for the brain; they just lead to migraines.
A little later, some vacationing windsurfers joined us. Understandably, they had sailed until dark the night before and took their time coming back out. Sticking to the plan, we regrouped two hours later at a restaurant for a laid-back meal with friends. But the lively atmosphere was too much stimulation for my brain, and I found myself needing another nap while the others launched into a second session.
A little later, I joined them again. A few clouds had rolled in, softening the wind and turning it more side-off. My friends, sensing the impending struggle, started heading back one by one. Eventually, the wind completely dropped, leaving them stranded with no power. But me, being my usual self, I wanted to enjoy every last moment. Of course, the wind died for good, and the current wasn’t helping. Just a reminder—the launch spot is UPWIND of the port. So, let’s just say I made it back however I could, ending up at a boat ramp a little farther down. But it’s all good—I walked back just in time to catch the ferry home.
The return journey was much smoother, perfect for reflecting on how lucky we are to experience these kinds of adventures. Now, I’ve added a new goal to my bucket list: coming back to La Désirade for several days to camp and soak in the experience even more. And while I’m at it, I’d love to check out Marie-Galante, another easy-to-access satellite island of Guadeloupe full of surprises.
For a different perspective, I also made a small vlog about this trip—let me know if you’re interested!
See you soon for another adventure, Coco”
