There is a vibrant windsurfing scene around Grand Cayman and, plenty of windsurfing hot-spots catering to everyone from beginners to advanced windies.

Santiago Campo, water sports manager with Red Sail Sports, has been smitten since he first tried it out in the Canary Islands over 20 years ago. For the past three years, he's been teaching windsurfing here and, during his time off, hitting up windsurfing locations around the island.

He says people are often surprised to discover the amount of opportunities that exist for windsurfers in Cayman.

Where you go, of course, will depend on the conditions and whether you are looking to catch waves, hit high speeds, or just cruise along in calmer waters, admiring the marine life below.

When the wind is blowing from the north, Campo heads to Morgan's Harbour or Barkers Beach, both in West Bay, or Morritt's Tortuga in East End. When there is a southerly blowing, Campo heads to South Sound, by the public launch ramp.

The best location, though, is usually Morritt's Tortuga, he says, both for beginners and advanced windsurfers.

"We have a perfect place for bump and jump; on the right-hand side we have a calm area that is shallow and protected from waves by the reef; no matter how windy it is its perfect water for going fast," he says.

"On the left hand side, where the channel opens up, it's almost like a wave stadium; we have waves coming in all the time."

Morritt's Tortuga is also said to be a very safe spot for windsurfing because the wind is usually on-shore, meaning windsurfers end up being pushed back towards the beach.

Red Sail Sports are the only water sports operator offering windsurfing lessons on Grand Cayman. They offer lessons from two locations - Morritt's Tortuga in East End, and The Westin Casuarina resort on Seven Mile Beach.

Instructors can take up to six people for every hour-and-a-half lesson. Lessons begin with 10 to 15 minutes of instruction on a land-based simulator before participants hit the water to do the real thing.

While everyone is different, Campo says he can usually have the average beginner up and sailing within 20 minutes.

"Basically within an hour-and-a-half, someone can have the basic knowledge and skill to go in a straight line for 200 yards and come back," he explains.

But don't expecting to be getting massive air-time from your first lesson, Campo cautions. "Your first lesson is an initiation to windsurfing. It's a sport that requires lots of technique and a lot of time on the water to become a really good sailor."

"To surf with the big waves in Hawaii, you need to be a finely tuned athlete with no fear."

Weather permitting, Red Sail offers equipment hire and windsurfing lessons 365 days of the year, from 8.30 to 4pm. All lessons are supervised by instructors on wave runners.

Red Sail offers equipment hire from US$35 per hour while one-and-a-half hour lessons are $55. Resident discounts are also available.

For more information, call them on 947-2097 for Morritt's Tortuga Club or 949-8732 for Red Sail at the Westin Casuarina Resort.

Key to Cayman experienced this windsurfing session courtesy of Red Sail Sports. For reservations call 947 2097 for Morritt's Tortuga Club or 949 8732 for Red Sail at the Westin Casuarina Resort.