Mauritius
The Roches Noires beach, located in Rivière du Rempart on the east coast of Mauritius, is a quiet spot lined with private cottages. It is a popular place for riders due to its access to a fine sandy beach, even though the surrounding land is privately owned. Surrounded by volcanic rocks typical of the region, it offers a wild and authentic atmosphere away from tourist crowds.
The spot is known for its varied water conditions, with flat and shallow areas ideal for progression. Locals come here for calm sessions, especially when the bays further south are crowded.
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.
chop
flatThe spot works well with wind coming from NE, ENE, E, ESE, or SE, which arrives in a side-onshore direction relative to the east-facing beach. These side-onshore south-east trade winds are consistent and reliable, particularly in the southern winter. The navigation area is shallow and flat to chop, with a medium-sized sandy beach for launching, but sometimes complicated by surrounding private properties.
At high tide, it is the ideal time as the water rises over the nearby reef and offers more space to take off and navigate safely. At low tide, the area becomes too shallow, making the session technical. The take-off area is narrow, so check the free space before launching. Local feature: the trade wind ensures regular sessions, but be cautious of gusts if a cyclone occurs in summer. The water remains smooth near the shore thanks to the reef, perfect for freestyle or progression.
Ideal conditions are a side-onshore wind from SE to E between 15 and 25 kts, at high tide. This offers a perfect flat water area for all levels.
The water is flat to chop most of the time, with shallow areas near the shore due to the coral reef. At high tide, it becomes more spacious and smooth, ideal for clean jibes. There are few waves here, except in strong winds where a slight chop forms.
Currents are generally weak in the bay protected by the reef. However, one should monitor areas near the Rivière du Rempart where they can accelerate at low tide. Tides have a moderate range, making high tide preferable for smooth sailing.
Opt for sizes of 9 to 12 m² in moderate trade wind. In gusts or light wind, go up to 11-13 m², and down to 7-9 m² in strong conditions.
The wind regime is dominated by south-east trade winds, locally called trade winds. They blow regularly at 15-25 kts during the optimal season, side-onshore on the beach. The best months are June, July, August, September, and October, with consistent winds. In summer, the wind is weaker except in the case of a cyclone.
The climate is tropical, with temperatures around 20°C in winter (June to September) and 25-30°C in summer (December to March). The trade wind season from April to November brings reliable wind and little rain to the east coast. Summer is hotter and more humid, with a risk of cyclones from December to March.
The depth is gradual and shallow with a sandy bottom near the shore. You can stand for a long time thanks to the reef, perfect for restarts.
The water is around 22-24°C in winter and 26-28°C in summer. A lycra is sufficient all year round.
