SCORE MORE, STRESS LESS: CHILE WAVE CAMPS WITH FINN MELLON

Over recent years, Chile has been put on the map by the epic IWT/ PWA tour events and as a consequence become a wave sailing location that many of us dream about…endless left-hand point breaks, relentless Surazo (south) winds and miles of untouched coastline. For Finn Mellon, that dream became reality a few years ago and ultimately something worth sharing.

What started as a one-off trip to the evet in Matanzas, quickly turned into a vision to bring others into that world through his guided wave camps in Matanzas. Blending world-class conditions with his acquired local knowledge, logistics dialled in and a crew of like-minded riders…Finn’s trips offer more than just great sailing…they deliver a full immersion into one of the most incredible wave sailing destinations on the planet.

THE DREAM

FINN MELLON: “Three years ago, I travelled to Chile for the first time. It had always been somewhere in the back of my mind…a place I associated with perfect, sand-bottom left-hand point breaks and long, peeling waves. That dream became reality when Lucas Meldrum floated the idea of heading there for an upcoming World Cup event. I didn’t need convincing, I was in immediately.

We were lucky enough to stay with Victor Fernandez in the beautiful Chilean home he shares with Klaas Voget. Both Victor and Klaas were early adopters of the region, buying property there over 14 years ago…long before Chile became a serious destination on the windsurfing map.

Victor showed us around Matanzas and the surrounding coastline, and from day one it was clear this place was special.

THE CHILE ROUTINE

Life quickly fell into a rhythm…and it was an amazing one. Early starts chasing the morning wind. Long sessions on the water. Then the drive back to Matanzas for an evening sail, followed by beers in a wood-fired hot tub, swapping stories as the sun disappeared over the Pacific. As daily routines go, it doesn’t get much better.

That first sojourn remains one of the most enjoyable windsurf trips I’ve ever experienced and more importantly, one of the most memorable.

FROM TRIP TO VISION

That feeling…pure windsurf stoke, in such an incredible location…is something I knew I had to share.

This year, I set up two Windsurf Wave Trips in Matanzas. The idea was simple: a 10-day experience where you live the windsurf lifestyle like the pros. Everything is taken care of…from logistics and planning to choosing the right spots each day…so the guests can focus entirely on scoring the best conditions possible. I would say this type of windsurf camp is more of a windsurf experience and guided tour rather than an out and out full coaching course. Of course I still give coaching pointers and we run video analysis of our daily windsurf clips but I would say the main focus and goal for me is to provide a once In a lifetime type trip for you In one of the worlds most amazing places. And maybe so easy that it doesnt have to be ‘once’ in a lifetime!

And one of the biggest surprises? Doing it this way often works out significantly more affordable than trying to organise a Chile trip solo.

MORE THAN JUST A TRIP

These camps aren’t just about sailing incredible waves, they’re about the full experience.

From scoring world-class sessions on endless left-hand point breaks, to sharing houses with like-minded riders, exploring remote waves and immersing yourself in Chile’s unique coastal culture…it is designed as a trip that goes far beyond windsurfing.

But don’t just take my word for it.

VOICES FROM THE WAVE CAMPS

To get a better picture of what the experience is really like, I caught up with a few of the riders who joined me on these trips. From first impressions to standout sessions, their stories give a real insight into what makes Chile…and these wave camps….so special.

SANDY RAMUS – SOUTH COAST WINDSURFER

For Sandy, the trip was about finally turning a long-held idea into reality.

“You hit a point in your windsurfing life…somewhere north of 50, when ‘one day’ needs to become ‘this season’. That moment came over a Guinness with Finn after a clinic in Brandon Bay. He just said: ‘Chile, mate.’ A few months later, we had a crew, a plan and Chile 2026 was on.”

Arriving in Matanzas, the tone was set immediately, clifftop accommodation, empty beaches and a tight-knit coastal community.

“This wasn’t a hotel…it was our mission headquarters.”

But it was the sailing that defined the trip.

“Turning the corner and seeing that point break for the first time was unreal, logo-high waves peeling perfectly down the line. Two-kilometre rides, four-hour sessions… and it just kept delivering. Without question, the best down-the-line wave sailing I’ve ever experienced.”

OLLIE SARGENT

Ollie hadn’t even considered Chile before the trip…but quickly realised how accessible it was.

“I’d never thought of Chile as a windsurf destination, but it was way easier than expected…flight via Madrid, a short transfer from Santiago to Matanzas and you’re there.”

What stood out most was the setting and overall experience.

“It’s an incredible place, amazing food, clean beaches, friendly people, and our house overlooking the ocean was unreal.”

And on the water, it exceeded everything.

“We had three days at this spot a couple of hours drive South of Matanzas where we were staying. They were, without question the best windsurfing conditions I’ve ever sailed: mast high peeling waves, consistent cross-off 4.5m wind, a sandy beach (no reef), blue water and sunshine. Followed by ceviche and beer overlooking the surf!”

Even the intimidating reputation didn’t quite match reality.

“It’s less terrifying than you think. The waves are big, but once you understand the spot, it was manageable and having Finn there made a huge difference.”

SARAH JACKSON

For Sarah, Chile had been on the radar…but the logistics were the barrier.

“I’d thought about going for years, but it’s not a straightforward trip. Multiple locations, off-road driving… it’s not like the Canaries. Seeing Finn’s trip made it an easy decision.”

The reality? Challenging…but rewarding.

“The sailing was harder than I expected, bigger waves and lighter winds, but that made it more rewarding. Having Finn there to guide us and put us in the right spots meant we scored way more than I would have alone. The challenge made it more rewarding and knowing Finn was keeping an eye on me and also putting us in the right places to score the best conditions made a huge difference. I know I wouldn’t have scored as many days if I wasn’t with Finn!

And off the water, staying with a group of passionate windsurfers makes a huge difference too. It was so much more enjoyable to be with friends and likeminded people. Some of the people in the group I knew in advance and others I didn’t but windsurfing brings people together and it was fun to be around other people with a similar level for the trip.”

And the group dynamic played a big role.

“Being with other windsurfers made it. It pushes your level and makes the whole experience more fun.”

My standout moment…

“Pichilemu was amazing…you can just ride forever and on the shoulder there’s almost no consequences so you can grow your confidence and decide how deep you want to ride. This is such a win and makes for so much fun, especially in new places. A lot of the best waves in the world come with a pretty high tax (e.g. the rocks in Ho’okipa) which definitely saps some of the enjoyment factor, but Pichilemu is just dreamland. Endless waves and a fun crowd is the perfect recipe for the best sessions ever!”

LESSONS LEARNED

THE VERDICT

Across the board, the feedback is consistent: Chile delivers.

It’s not the easiest destination…but that’s part of what makes it special. With the right guidance, it becomes one of the most rewarding wave sailing experiences out there.

And with Finn Mellon leading the way, it’s not just about finding good conditions, it’s about making sure you score the sessions you came for.

CAPE TOWN VERSUS CHILE

If you are toying with the idea of either Cape Town or Chile here are the views from Sarah Jackson and Finn Mellon…

Sarah Jackson: “Both locations have a lot of opportunities to sail different locations and having a guide definitely helps in both, especially if you haven’t been before. I haven’t done Finn’s clinic with Dieter in Cape Town, but they are known for being the crew that are always scoring! I’ve done quite a few trips to Cape Town so I’m a bit more in the loop and get the info from the locals on where’s going to work each day but if you don’t have that then you can really lose a lot of sailing days in both places! Conditions wise, they couldn’t be more different to me!

I don’t head down south of the city much in Cape Town so the conditions are mostly bump and jump with some fun wave days, but you can almost always find somewhere to score. Chile is the opposite…it is all or nothing, but when it’s on, its epic! Which would do I prefer? That is hard to say! I think Chile offers so much more with big waves and performance riding whereas Cape Town is a lot friendlier conditions. Both have good steak, good wine and a fair bit of driving involved if you want to score the best spots, so ultimately it depends on which conditions you’re looking for!”

Fin Mellon: “Cape Town is a solid comparison to Chile, as almost everyone heads to Cape Town for their winter windsurf trip nowadays. Surprisingly Chile, is not that much more expensive than a trip to Cape Town. Flights are actually cheaper to Chile than Cape Town. Accommodation costs are pretty similar, food is more expensive than Cape Town that is for sure. Once you are in Chile, I would compare the cost of living similar but slightly cheaper than Ireland and the UK.”

More info about Finn’s camp here!

Finn Mellon Coaching – Wave Camps

CHILE WAVE CAMP VIDEO