Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez - Plage Les Salins
France
Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez
The Salins beach, in the village of Bec in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, is a fine sandy beach popular with naturists, set in a wild environment bordered by dunes. A dedicated kitesurfing area is located between Salins and Becs beaches, about 300 meters long and open even in summer. The spot remains uncrowded, providing an open space for serene navigation.
Les données de vent affichées ici proviennent d’ERA5 (via Open-Meteo) sur 4 ans, retraitées pour refléter des conditions réalistes.
👉 Le vent moyen a été calibré pour éviter la sous-estimation habituelle des modèles.
👉 Les rafales ont été corrigées par un ratio médian afin d’éviter des valeurs extrêmes irréalistes.
👉 Chaque jour est résumé par le vent médian (P50) observé pendant les heures utiles (8h–20h), puis classé dans des plages de vent.
👉 Le mode pondéré mélange vent moyen et rafales pour refléter au mieux le vent ressenti.
- 🟢 10–16 nds : vent faible mais navigable (notamment en foil).
- 🟡 16–22 nds : plage idéale, conditions confortables pour la majorité.
- 🔴 22–28 nds : vent fort, réservé aux riders expérimentés.
- 🟣 28+ nds : conditions extrêmes, navigation engagée.
Localisation & Points d'intérêt
Informations utiles
wave
chopThe spot benefits from direct exposure to winds from west to northwest, typically side-on or side-shore relative to the northwest-oriented beach, which facilitates take-offs and landings in the 300m reserved area. Launching is done directly from the wide sandy beach, with a marine water surface forming moderate chop and waves depending on the swell, perfect for freeride or wave riding. The navigation area extends in front of the beach without major obstacles due to the sparsely urbanized environment, but stay within marked limits to avoid naturist bathers to the north. In summer, the area remains accessible despite monitoring, and the wind is generally steady without excessive turbulence from the surrounding dunes.
Ideal conditions are with a NW to W wind of 15 to 25 knots, side-shore, for a navigable water surface without excessive waves.
The water surface presents a usual chop and waves formed by the Atlantic swell, more pronounced in winter. At low tide, the beach widens, facilitating access, while at high tide the water depth increases for freer jumps.
Currents are generally weak along this exposed coast, but they can intensify with the outgoing tide or near natural channels. Check the tide schedules to anticipate any rip currents.
Opt for kite sizes of 9 to 11m² in moderate wind, and 7 to 9m² when it picks up, suitable for variable Vendée winds.
The prevailing winds come from the west to northwest, steady and strong in season, driven by Atlantic depressions. The spot is known for its consistent and non-turbulent wind, ideal for long sessions.
The Vendée climate is oceanic, with mild temperatures year-round: 8-12°C in winter and 18-25°C in summer. The best months for kitesurfing span the entire year according to data, but spring and autumn offer a good balance between wind and mildness.
The depth is gradual with a predominantly sandy bottom, with possible foot depth up to 50-100m from the shore at low tide.
Water temperatures range from 10-13°C in winter to 18-22°C in summer, with a 5/3mm wetsuit recommended outside the warm season.