Talmont-Saint-Hilaire

Veillon mainly works with winds from the West to Northwest, which generally arrive side-on relative to the main beach facing directly west. When the wind shifts more to the Southwest, it becomes a bit more onshore, with a more pronounced shorebreak on the ocean side.

The spot is actually composed of two main areas. On the ocean side, in front of the vast beach, there is a wide shorebreak and a field of waves that organize on the sandbanks, with plenty of space to ride and jump. The launch area is vast on the sand at the top of the beach, allowing for stress-free preparation and takeoff even when there are many people.

At low and mid-tide, a large lagoon forms in the Payré estuary, protected from the swell by the sandbank. The water there is rather flat to slightly choppy, ideal for freestyle, old school, and learning. The local school heavily utilizes this area as you can stand in a large part of the lagoon and the absence of waves makes mistakes more forgiving.

Entry can be made either directly on the ocean beach, walking a few dozen meters to pass the shorebreak, or in the lagoon depending on the water height. At very low tide, you may need to walk a bit to find enough depth to navigate, but it remains comfortable as the bottom is sandy. At high tide, the lagoon fills and communicates more strongly with the ocean, which can create more current and fewer completely flat areas.

It is important to clearly identify the navigation channel towards Port Bourgenay and the areas reserved for supervised water activities. Kites are generally prepared on the large sandy esplanade and at the top of the beach, leaving a passage corridor for walkers and other practitioners. In the summer season, the beach is very crowded, which requires respecting swimming zones and often moving towards the southern parts or near the mouth to take off and land.

The wind is cleaner and more consistent as you move away from the shoreline, especially when there is some relief or buildings behind the beach. In strong west winds, the ocean water quickly becomes choppy, with nice lines for surfkite but a rather technical water surface for beginners. The lagoon, on the other hand, maintains limited chop and remains more accessible, as long as the water height and current allow.