PLAYA CHICA
6pm: On the dot, we rock up at Chica where the wind is lashing the waves over the causeway out to La Paloma. We are right in front of the old part of town with its picturesque narrow cobbled streets, tumbling jasmine and white washed houses.
The tainted history of Tarifa dates way back to 711, when 7000 Arabs landed there and within a few years conquered almost all of Spain. The Arabs considered Tarifa as the key to Spain and ever since its important position has played a major role in its destiny. The winds that blow through the straights finally brought along a different form of invasion in the eighties and nineties in the form of windsurfers, a siege that even today retains its tight grip on the town.
Today we are in the midst of our own offensive and right now it is time to put to the test the slalom skills of poor Ben who has already put in a four hour shift in the waves and now has to hang on to a 5.6 in 40-50 knots. Benny manages to last 45 minutes in the survival conditions, enduring several high speed wipe outs as he blasts between Europe and Africa across the straits of Gibraltar. With plenty of sailing shots under our belts, our conquest is almost complete, now for the easy part, beer and food!