Mauritius
Melville, located south of Grand Gaube in the north of Mauritius, is a kitesurfing spot in a beautiful lagoon with clear waters. It is easily accessible by car with direct parking on the beach.
The beach is small and sandy, bordered by grass and trees, in a quiet corner favored by locals for its tropical conditions. It is an authentic place with a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for riding away from the crowds.
Schools like Kite@North offer lessons with safety boats, ideal for progressing in peace.
The wind data shown here comes from ERA5 (via Open-Meteo) over 4 years, reprocessed to reflect realistic conditions.
👉 Average wind has been calibrated to avoid the usual underestimation of models.
👉 Gusts have been corrected by a median ratio to avoid unrealistic extreme values.
👉 Each day is summarized by the median wind (P50) observed during useful hours (8am–8pm), then classified into wind ranges.
👉 The weighted mode mixes average wind and gusts to best reflect felt wind.
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flatThe Melville spot offers a large protected lagoon with flat to choppy water, ideal for maneuvers and freestyle. The launch is directly from the small sandy beach, with parking right next to it for easy access.
The wind orientation is optimal in NE, ENE, E (side-on to side-shore from the right of the beach), while the main SE trade wind blows from June to October but makes the spot more technical. The navigation area is wide in the lagoon, with a safety boat recommended for upwind rides and to avoid crowded areas.
Watch out for anchored boats near the shore and downwind launches towards Cap Malheureux or Anse la Raie. The take-off is on the grassy beach, and the lagoon remains navigable year-round with boat support from local schools.
Ideal conditions are with a NE to E wind of 15-25 knots, side-on, to fully enjoy the flat lagoon without risky side-off.
The water state is flat to choppy in the lagoon, with shallow and crystal-clear waters. The bottom is sandy, perfect for waterstarts and jibes without risking your gear.
Currents are generally weak in the protected lagoon, but can intensify near the passes or during downwinders. Tides have little influence on navigation, with a preference for high tide for more space.
Opt for kite sizes of 9 to 12m² in moderate SE trade wind, and 7 to 10m² for stronger NE sessions in the lagoon.
The wind regime is dominated by SE trade winds from June to October, with regular strengths suitable for kitesurfing. The spot excels with NE and E winds in the intermediate season, offering consistent sessions in the lagoon.
The tropical climate of Grand Gaube is warm year-round, with average temperatures around 25-30°C. The dry season from May to November offers the best wind conditions, while the humid summer from December to April is rainier but still navigable.
The lagoon is shallow with a sandy gradual bottom, allowing you to stand for a good distance from the shore.
The water remains warm year-round between 24°C in winter and 28-30°C in summer, with no need for a wetsuit most of the time.
