What happens when you take the prefix KITESURF plus the suffix of FESTIVAL? You get KITEIVAL! What a cool word! And an even cooler event! Kiteival is the first and only of it’s kind, a unique kitesurfing festival where the competition is held in different stages around Mauritius.

KITE + SURF!

If you got to the KITEIVAL website, you will read that

Kiteival’s Technical Director is Nico Kux (Sindbad Ltd) our National Kite Instructor, IKO and BKSA Certified. Nico has introduced kite surf in Mauritius and organized several kite surf events and festivals. He has also successfully participated in international kite surf events and competitions.

He is assisted by Albert d’Unienville of Naïade Events who has a solid experience in the organization of major international and local (sports) events in Mauritius. With the support of Naïade Resorts, one of the leading hotel groups in the Indian Ocean, who owns resorts hotels strategically situated all around Mauritius, Kiteival has the full potential to become a fantastic annual kite surf event.

Unfortunately for you, the festival was in August (I probably should have said that sooner. Shame.) but on Friday 9th October (that’s THIS FRIDAY FYI) they’re having the KITEIVAL (man I love that word) OPEN NIGHT where you can enjoy a film and slideshow about the festival. And if you’re a girl, pick up some hot kitesurfer dude. And if you’re a dude, pick up some hot kitesurfer lady. Or dude. Whatever.

So get on over to the Grand Bay Yacht Club on Friday 9th. The film starts at 8, but I suggest getting there around 7 for happy hour when there’s a buy one get one free special on beer. Also, if you book in advance you can get a barbecue pack for Rs 265.

Sweeeeet dude.

xx Coco

No, it’s the OCULUS! This, my little friends, is what we call a Super Yacht. And isn’t it super? The 250 ft pile of awesome was designed by Kevin Schöpfer, and while it is still only a concept, the Oculus is the flagship yacht (i’m sorry – Super Yacht) in Schöpfer’s new line.

Nice.

Schöpfer describes the Oculus as

Designed to accommodate 12 guests in extraordinary comfort and style, Oculus is a long distance cruising yacht capable of speeds upwards of 25 knots. The exterior styling is representative of the jaw and eye socket bone structure of large oceanic fish and mammals. Featuring a dramatic reverse bow configuration, the yacht’s armature balances an elegant expression of symmetry and structure. In addition to the bow, Oculus also features a “low rider profile”. This slightly lowered surface allows for new side recreational areas, alternate dockage access and light cruising openness. Lateral retractable side panels close this area when heavier wave action is indicated. The interior features of Oculus focus on a 12 foot high ceiling in the main salon, a cylindrical double height dining room, central stair and elevator tube, and seemingly anatomical ceiling and floor lighting extensions giving definition to the seating areas. The second level is the dedicated Owner’s suite. Living areas and bedchambers are divided by a series of four freestanding tubes, which house bath and storage necessities. In addition to the main common stair, the second Owner’s stair connects to the third level, a private salon and deck / water feature. The third level also contains the forward pilothouse and separate captain’s quarters. The generous open decks with separate water features are located forward and aft for convenient guest use.

A Low-Rider profile?? Well daaaaamn somebody’s gonna be getting some Wave Action! And I think the water feature’s a lovely touch…. even thought it might look a bit small when you’re travelling across The Ocean. Go HERE to order yours (it’ll only set you back about $95 Million).

Please...make yourselves at home...

Oh yes, I like what you've done with the place

Average vibe

Do you have any in yellow?

Never mind that. I’ll take two, please.

Xx Coco

This is pretty cool.

xx Coco

I don’t enjoy negative writing about our island, and fortunately I don’t often have to. In the last month, however, there have been a number of attacks on residents, leaving them traumatized and making many of us begin to feel unsafe in what we thought was a secure community.

The fist attack happened to a friend of mine a few weeks ago as she was walking from Buddha Bar to Banana Bar in Grand Bay. A man came up to her and grabbed her, trying to drag her into his car. Fortunately a group of men came around the corner and scared him off. 3 Weeks later, another friend of mine was walking near her home in Pereybere when a white Toyota Corolla stopped beside her.  A group of men wearing balaclavas and carrying a metal rod started intimidating her. Thinking that they wanted her bag, she dropped it, but they ignored it and tried to get her into their car. Fortunately she managed to run away from them.

Last weekend 2 more families became victims of increasingly violent crime. On Sunday evening, just after 7:30 acouple was sitting at home with their 3 year old granddaughter when 3 men entered and held them up at knife point. Once again, the men were in balaclavas, two of them holding sugar cane pangas and one of them with a knife which he held to the woman’s neck, while one of the others attacked her husband.

The couple was forced to hand over their electronics, money, documents etc and were then locked in a bathroom while the men fled. All of this happened in front of their grandchild, who ran upstairs and hid in her bedroom. Shockingly, it took four phone calls to the police to get a response!

Look, I know that there is crime everywhere, and that it generally rises during economic recessions, but it’s still quite shocking to see that even our little oasis is not safe. Islandlings, please be on high alert. Don’t walk alone after dark, and if you see dodgy cars lurking around your home, get out of there and report it to the police immediately! In both cases with the men in balaclavas the gangs were driving old white toyotas, so be on a look out for those. These are not isolated incidents, as many of you already know, burglaries have been increasing dramatically over the past year. It was only a matter of time before the criminals got more daring, and more violent. So please, please, please be AWARE and be SAFE!

Sigh. If only we had….

YYYEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

Xx Coco