When I heard that they were planning to leave in 30 minutes I thought to myself why not it’s just three hours of sailing…

Long distance windsurfing is certainly not something everyone will take part in during their life but it might just be that at some point or another we’ve all thought “I wonder how long it will take to get from here to …” and then the day dreaming commences. Well for a few hardy souls out there the day dreams form into a reality and before they know it they are stepping onto their board, kitted up to the hilt with safety gear and on their way through a torrent of aches, pains and blisters. Yet it is the satisfaction of not only making a dream a reality but, in most cases, achieving that dream which inspires those who go for it to take the plunge into the unknown. This is exactly how Ethan Westera, who at the age of 17, took to the open ocean and windsurfed around Aruba alone whilst his grandfather chased him by car along the cliff tops.

Read on to hear Ethan’s story and for 5 top tips if you fancy going the distance.