Esposende

The spot is located in the estuary of the Rio Cávado, with a large navigable area between the town of Esposende and the peninsula of Ofir. One can navigate either on the town side or on the sandbank of the reserve accessible by taxi boat from local schools. The dominant wind from N to NW comes from the ocean and generally blows side-on to side-shore relative to the lagoon, providing safe drifting conditions. On the ocean side, the wind is rather side-shore.

In the lagoon, the water surface is mostly flat to slightly choppy depending on the tide and wind intensity. At low tide and mid-tide, there are large areas knee to waist-deep, perfect for beginners and freestyle. The main navigation area is well cleared, but one must stay away from the navigation channel marked by buoys near the mouth and the port. Access to the water is either from the town side with a grassy or sandy area for takeoff, or directly from the sandbank after crossing by boat.

At high tide, the depth increases and the current strengthens a bit, but the lagoon remains navigable for most levels. Outside the lagoon, when exiting through the mouth towards the Atlantic, there is a large beach with regular waves smoothed by an outer reef, allowing for a combination of flat river sessions and surf at sea depending on desires. Schools sometimes set up a few kickers and sliders in the lagoon for freestyle riders.

In summer, the thermal wind strengthens in early afternoon and the spot can become very crowded, with many kites in the lagoon and the boat shuttles running continuously. It is important to respect takeoff zones, maintain a good safety margin around other riders, and not navigate in prohibited areas near the river's mouth.