Cap Malheureux - Pointe Butte aux Sables
Mauritius
Cap Malheureux
Pointe Butte aux Sables in Cap Malheureux, in the Rivière du Rempart, is a quiet beach on the north coast of Mauritius. It is part of the same lagoon as neighboring spots like Anse la Raie and Butte à l'Herbe, with its turquoise water and light sand.
Locals appreciate this place for its tranquility and view of the northern islands. It is an authentic spot, not too touristy, ideal for a kitesurf session without crowds.
Launching is easy from this public beach, with a lush setting and peaceful atmosphere.
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
flatflatThe spot at Pointe Butte aux Sables offers perfectly flat water in the lagoon protected by the reef, especially in side-on northwest or southwest winds relative to the north-facing beach. The riding area extends across the entire lagoon shared with Cap Malheureux and Butte à l'Herbe, wide and long, allowing for freeride or freestyle sessions without hassle. Launching is directly from the fine sand, with no rocks at the edge, and the take-off area is spacious on the public beach. Be cautious of low tides where the lagoon becomes very shallow, limiting rideable space. The wind is less consistent than in the south of the island, but the flat water compensates greatly for clean jibes and jumps. On days with north trade winds, it’s perfect side-shore, with little chop even in moderate strength. For downwinders, you can link to Anse la Raie to the east. Local feature: the lagoon is kiteable in most wind conditions due to its reef protection, but avoid onshore days from the south that create chop.
Ideal conditions are a side-on northwest wind at 18-25 knots, stable and thermal, to take advantage of the perfect flat water of the lagoon.
The water state is ultra-flat thanks to the barrier reef, with a clear turquoise bottom. Few waves in the lagoon, even in strong winds, but light chop possible near the shore in onshore winds.
Currents are weak in the protected lagoon but can strengthen near the reef passes or when heading out to the ocean. Tides have a moderate range, mainly affecting depth at low tide.
Opt for kite sizes of 9 to 12 m² in medium north winds, or 7 to 9 m² on stronger days, suitable for flat water and sometimes irregular winds.
The dominant wind pattern comes from the northwest in the cool season, with strengths of 15-25 knots on good days. Less reliable than the southeast trade winds, but the flat lagoon makes every session productive. The best months cover the entire year according to data, peaking in the austral winter.
The climate on the north coast of Mauritius is warm tropical year-round, with average temperatures around 25-30°C. The austral winter (May to October) is drier and windier, while summer (November to April) brings warmth and occasional rain, but remains pleasant for kiting.
The depth is gradual with a sandy and rocky bottom in places. You can stand up to about 50-100 m from the shore in deep water, but very shallow at low tide.
Water temperature ranges between 24°C in winter and 28°C in summer, comfortable without a wetsuit year-round.