Base Militaire (étang de Leucate)
France · Occitanie
The Military Base of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque is a kitesurf spot located south of the Salses-Leucate lagoon, on the border between Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales in Occitanie. The site occupies the location of an old seaplane base built in 1924 and commissioned in 1927, which reached its peak during the aeronautical tests of the first half of the 20th century before being partially destroyed during World War II. Today, only a few remnants of that era remain next to which many kitesurfers train.
It is a popular spot for its relatively well-suited sailing conditions for learning and progression, with shallow and calm water. The Salses-Leucate lagoon benefits from very good exposure to the prevailing wind coming from the Northwest, making it one of the best kitesurf spots in France with about 300 days of wind per year.
Historical averages by month — not a live forecast.
The spot benefits from excellent exposure to the prevailing Northwest wind, which creates generally side-shore to side-on conditions that are very favorable. The launch area is located just behind the parking lot, with a rather large beach but where cars are parked a few dozen meters downwind. The ground is a mix of shells and small pebbles with some tufts of grass in certain areas, which requires checking that your lines are not tangled before takeoff.
The lagoon offers navigation in calm and shallow waters, ideal for learning. In strong wind, it is important to properly connect your kite and check your equipment before any launch. In On-Shore wind, it is necessary to stay away from the shore and the parking lot to maintain a sufficient safety margin. The wind is less strong than at the La Franqui spot, making progression more accessible.
Sources :lefun-camping.com · zoomkite.com · kiteschool-leucate.com · spots.universkite.fr · whereismykite.ch · spotkitesurf.com
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