Isola Rossa

The bay of La Marinedda is exposed to swells from the west and northwest, making it primarily a wave spot. The wind that works most often is the Maestrale (NW) as well as the Ponente (W), which generally come in side to side-on relative to the beach, with wind coming from the right when looking at the sea. In strong NW winds, the spot quickly becomes robust with powerful sets, more suited for experienced riders.

Launching is done directly from the large sandy beach, with no rocks in the main navigation area. The kite is inflated and launched on the sand, keeping a distance from other users, as the bay is quite narrow by the beach and can quickly become crowded in summer with surfers and bathers. In winter and off-season, there is much more space for kiting.

The water is generally chop + waves: near the shore, there is a more or less marked shorebreak depending on the swell size, then waves break on a relatively even sandy bottom. When the swell is small, one can find calmer sections between sets to ride, but it is not a flat spot. Waves can reach 1 to 3 meters, or even more during strong depressions, with sections sometimes being tubular.

The navigation area concentrates in the axis of the bay. To the left, towards the port of Isola Rossa, the waves are often smaller and the water a bit more sheltered. To the right, towards the opening of the bay, the swell comes in better and the waves are more powerful. It is advisable for kitesurfers to stay well offshore from surfers who generally position themselves on the main peaks in the center and on the right side of the bay.

There are no significant tides in the Mediterranean, so the water level mainly varies with the swell size and wind strength. The bottom is indicated as sandy with no significant underwater rocks in the surf area, which limits risks in case of a fall, but the shorebreak can be physical on days of large waves. The spot does not handle very strong onshore winds well, which complicate launching and returning to the beach, nor very irregular winds.

In summary, La Marinedda is a spot to favor for wave riding with a good Maestrale or Ponente, rather for riders already comfortable in the waves. For a relaxed freeride or flat water, other spots on the coast (like Badesi) will be more suitable.