Windsurfing in Bonaire: A Complete Guide to Lac Bay

While the west coast of Bonaire belongs to divers and snorkelers, the east coast belongs to the wind. Lac Bay, a wide, reef-sheltered lagoon on the windward side of the island, is regularly ranked among the finest windsurfing spots on earth. What makes it special is the rare mix of strong, dependable wind and shallow, flat, safe water in the same place.

What makes Lac Bay so special?

Lac Bay is Bonaire’s largest bay, protected from the open sea by a barrier reef. The reef flattens the swell, so inside the bay the water is smooth. At the same time the trade winds sweep straight across the lagoon at roughly 15 to 25 knots for much of the year. Flat water plus steady wind is the exact combination advanced sailors want for freestyle and speed, yet the shallow depth also makes the bay unusually safe. Across large parts of the lagoon you can simply stand up, which is a huge confidence boost when you are learning.

Is Lac Bay good for beginners?

It is one of the best beginner venues anywhere. Falling in is low stress when the water is warm, chest deep, and free of waves, and the wind rarely gusts violently the way it can at more exposed spots. Beginners usually start in the inner part of the bay near Sorobon Beach, working on stance and turns before venturing further out toward the reef where the wind is strongest. Lessons progress quickly here because the conditions do so much of the work.

Who runs the windsurf centers?

Three well-established centers operate side by side at Sorobon Beach on the shore of Lac Bay: Jibe City, Bonaire Windsurf Place, and the Dunkerbeck Pro Center, the last named after the windsurfing world champion Bjorn Dunkerbeck. All three rent modern boards and sails by the day or week, offer beginner and advanced lessons, and store gear so you do not have to haul it back and forth. Each has a relaxed beach bar, which is part of the appeal of a day at Sorobon.

What about kitesurfing?

Kitesurfing is not allowed in Lac Bay, but Bonaire has a dedicated kite spot at Atlantis Beach on the southwest coast, near the salt flats. It has the same reliable trade winds with open, sandy launch space and its own schools and rental operators. Windsurfers and kitesurfers therefore have separate homes on the island, which keeps both spots uncrowded.

When is the best time to go?

The trade winds are a near-constant feature of Bonaire, but they are strongest and most consistent from roughly December through August. The autumn months can see lighter, less reliable wind, so dedicated windsurfers often plan around the windy season. On most days the wind builds through the morning and peaks in the afternoon, so a late lunch at the beach bar followed by an afternoon session is a common plan.

What else can you do at Lac Bay?

Lac Bay is more than a windsurf spot. On light-wind days you can rent a stand-up paddleboard, snorkel the shallow reef, or take a kayak tour through the mangrove forest that fringes the bay, where you may spot herons and even flamingos. That variety makes Sorobon a good base for a mixed day on the water.

If you want to sail every day, it helps to stay near the wind. Look at vacation rentals on Bonaire on the east and south of the island to cut down the drive to Lac Bay.