Plage de Plaisance
France · Nouvelle-Aquitaine
The Plaisance beach is located south of the Douhet port, on the island of Oléron in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. This calm spot in the northeast of the island is perfect for kitesurfing beginners due to its shallow water and sandbanks that protect from the swell.
The sandy beach stretches for several hundred meters and attracts many riders, including for wingfoiling. An area is reserved for kitesurfers during the summer season, with easy access from the parking lot at the end of which you find the kite zone to the left.
It is a popular spot for schools due to its natural water plan at low tide, where one can progress without stress among other disciplines like windsurfing or stand-up paddle.
The favorable wind orientations are N, NE, E, with a side-shore or side-on wind from these directions relative to the east-west oriented beach. The water plan is flat and protected about 2h30 before and after low tide thanks to a bank of rocks offshore that absorbs the swell, ideal for beginners and freeride.
Launching is done from the end of the parking lot, kite zone to the left (sometimes poorly marked), with take-off on the wide beach. At high tide, a shore-break appears troublesome for false beginners, and navigation becomes expert only beyond 60 cm of swell. Kitefoiling possible to the right at low tide.
Beware of turbulence in the first 200 meters if wind too north due to the Douhet port; in this case, alternative to the Gautrelle spot. Navigation area marked by flags in season, with buffer towards the monitored swimming area. Frequented by schools, windsurfing, and SUP.
Sources :kiteinside.com · oleron.fr · allosurf.net · lets-kite.com · oleronkitesurf.com
