Espagne
Platja dels Pescadors, in Badalona, is an urban spot easily accessible north of Barcelona. It is a wide beach, with relatively simple navigation when the wind is well oriented, and it mainly attracts local riders outside of the high season.
The spot operates in a very exposed setting, with space to rig and launch on the sand. The atmosphere is more local than touristy, and conditions can become technical as soon as the swell or shorebreak rises.
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.
chop
flatThe spot of Badalona - Platja dels Pescadors mainly works with a side-on to side-shore wind depending on the orientation, allowing for clean navigation along the beach. Specialized guides indicate that kitesurfing is allowed outside of high season, which is important to verify before any session. Launching takes place on a wide sandy beach, with a possible launch area directly from the shore, but it is necessary to keep space as the beach gets crowded as soon as the weather improves.
When the garbí wind blows, the spot can be interesting as it is often well established in this sector of the Barcelona coast. However, with a levante wind, navigation can become more demanding: the wind remains usable, but the orientation and presence of waves make outings less comfortable. The water surface is generally easier in regular wind conditions without heavy swell, and more technical as soon as the sea comes in. Launching and retrieving the kite requires staying vigilant, especially in an urban area where available space can be limited on certain days.
For intermediate riders, the spot offers a good option for coastal navigation when conditions are clean. For beginners, it is better to choose a stable day, with few people and steady wind, as the shorebreak can complicate the first part of the session. The spot is therefore especially interesting for a short and effective urban practice, with a higher level of attention than a completely open beach.
The best sessions occur with a side-shore to side-on wind, around 15 to 25 knots, on a rather tidy sea. An east wind can provide solid navigation, provided the beach is free enough and the swell remains contained.
The spot is more enjoyable when there is enough wind to quickly pass through the shorebreak zone and maintain power in the kite without over-sheeting. In these conditions, one enjoys simple navigation, with a direct launch from the sand and a clearly readable riding area.
The water surface is generally rather mixed, with a predominance of chop as soon as the wind picks up or the sea rises. In calmer seas, smoother passages can be found near the shore, but the spot is not a lagoon and does not offer constant flat water.
When the swell comes in, navigation becomes more physical and the shorebreak can be present at launch. The best sessions often occur with a tidy sea, as the board then maintains a more predictable behavior and transitions are simpler.
Currents are generally moderate, but they can strengthen locally with the wind and sea state. It is important to stay alert to drifts near the shore, especially if the wind drops or if navigating in a more exposed passage area.
The tide influences the spot in a limited to moderate way compared to other more sensitive beaches, but it can change the usable width of the launch area and the intensity of the shorebreak. The spot remains generally navigable at both tide states, with more comfort when the beach offers enough space to handle the kite dry.
For an average rider, the most useful sizes are often 8 to 10 m² when the wind is around 20 knots. Heavier riders may go down to 7 to 8 m², while lighter days require 10 to 11 m².
As the wind can vary quickly on the Barcelona coast, it is better to plan for a fairly wide size range. The most practical quivers for this spot often revolve around 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 m².
The local regime is marked by winds from the east to northeast during levante episodes, and by flows from southwest to west when the garbí or more Atlantic systems take over. On the Barcelona coast, garbí is a term often used by locals to refer to the thermal wind from the southwest.
The wind strength varies greatly depending on the weather situation, but a session around 20 knots already corresponds to a good range of navigation for this spot. The most interesting days come when the wind is stable enough to maintain a clean trajectory, without too many gusts related to the urban environment and the coast.
The climate of Badalona is mediterranean, with hot summers, mild winters, and many navigable days in spring and autumn. In summer, temperatures are often high on the coast, with more pleasant water but significant crowds on the beach.
The best times for kiting are often between April and October, when thermal winds and synoptic wind episodes can combine. In winter, the spot remains possible if a good wind window presents itself, but conditions are less regular and the air cooler.
The depth increases gradually and the bottom is mainly sandy. One can generally stand in a decent area at the shore, which facilitates launching and retrieving the kite when the beach is not too crowded.
The spot is not known for complex shallows, but the navigation area remains quite typical for an urban beach open to the sea. The depth and bottom are generally favorable for easy launching, as long as the swell does not complicate the edge.
The water is most pleasant in summer, with temperatures often around 22 to 25 °C on the Catalan coast. In spring and autumn, it remains navigable but starts to cool down significantly, with values often around 16 to 20 °C.
In winter, the water generally drops to 13 to 15 °C, which requires a thicker wetsuit. For a comfortable session, a shorty or a 3/2 may suffice in the warm season, but a 4/3 quickly becomes useful outside of summer.
