Marseille

Plage de Bonneveine

France · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Intermediate

Dec → Apr

24.6 kt

↓ Choppy

↑ Choppy

Marseille

The Bonneveine beach, located in the 8th arrondissement of Marseille, is an urban spot appreciated by riders for its easy access to the sea. It stretches over 540 meters of fine sand and offers a view of the Mediterranean coast typical of the region. It is a popular place for locals, especially in the low season, with a friendly atmosphere thanks to the Massilia Kite association based at the rescue station n°8 from October to May.

The spot is accessible with winds from South-West to North, but it requires experience due to the jetties and the shore break in strong winds. The launch area is generally at the junction with the Vieille Chapelle beach, a sheltered area that facilitates starts. In the summer, kitesurfing is prohibited or very technical.

The more the wind comes from the South, the more the water is flat, ideal for freestyle sessions. However, with North or mistral winds, it becomes steeper and more technical, with increased risks.

Live wind & forecast

Windy

Open Windguru forecast

Climate stats — monthly averages

Historical averages by month — not a live forecast.

Location

Detailed information

The spot works well with winds from South-West to North, oriented side-shore to side-on from the South-West, providing a relatively flat water surface suitable for freestyle or foil. With North or mistral (North-West) winds, the orientation becomes side-off and the spot turns into a minefield with violent gusts that can double in strength within minutes, making navigation very technical. The navigation area is marked by yellow buoys at sea during the low season, with a launch area on the northern part of the beach adjacent to the Vieille Chapelle.

Launching is relatively easy from the sandy beach, especially at the Bonneveine-Vieille Chapelle junction where a band of sand sheltered by a large jetty allows for starts without too much shore break in moderate conditions. However, be cautious of wind shadows created by the jetty during launch, and in strong winds, a significant shore break forms, requiring perfect timing between waves for a towed swim out to sea. In summer, access is on a narrow concrete slab bordered by rocks, which is extremely technical and dangerous.

Tides have a low amplitude (about 0.3 to 0.5m), not significantly impacting the water surface which remains constant. The navigation areas extend in front of the beach, but you must stay away from the jetties and watch for swimmers or sunbathers during peak times. With South-West swell and West wind, waves form, turning the spot towards surfing. The local association assists with launches and landings.