Hyères - Plage de la Badine
France
Hyères
The Badine beach, located on the Giens peninsula in Hyères, is a beautiful stretch of fine sand popular for its water activities. It offers easy access to the sea and a friendly atmosphere, with kayak and paddle rentals right next door.
It is a well-known spot in the region for kitesurfing, even though it is not labeled by FFVL. Riders come here mainly in winter when it is tolerated, enjoying the proximity of schools and water sports centers like UCPA.
Surrounded by the salt road and the landscapes of the Côte d'Azur, it alternates between calm for lounging and wind for sliding sports.
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.
- 🟢 10–16 kts: light but sailable wind (especially on foil).
- 🟡 16–22 kts: ideal range, comfortable conditions for most.
- 🔴 22–28 kts: strong wind, reserved for experienced riders.
- 🟣 28+ kts: extreme conditions, committed riding.
Location & Points of interest
Useful information
flat
chopThe Badine beach is oriented facing East, making it an excellent spot in side-on or side-shore East wind, perfect for freestyle and freeride. The East wind blows regularly on the Giens peninsula, but one must exit through the marked channel to go beyond 300 meters from the shore, such as the Mérou or Almanarre channel.
Launching is done from the designated beach perpendicular to the channels for experienced riders, but beginners must go by boat with a school. The navigation area is offshore after 300m, with a safety buffer zone on each side of the channels to avoid bathers. Be cautious of the anti-swell buoys at water level and the shallow depth near the shore; at least 100m is needed for foils.
The water surface varies with the tides: more choppy at low tide near the beach, but flat to choppy once outside. In East or South-East winds, the waves can grow, making navigation technical. Prepare your gear in the designated area and always check the weather before launching.
The ideal conditions are an East wind at 18-25 knots, side-on, for a manageable water surface and constant power. Avoid too onshore winds that chop the water surface too much.
The water surface is often choppy near the beach due to the anti-swell buoys, but becomes flatter beyond 300m. In strong East winds, powerful waves form, suitable for riders comfortable in swell.
The currents are moderate in the bay, but more pronounced in the marked channels where one must remain vigilant. Tides influence the flow, with a stronger current going out to sea.
Opt for sizes between 9 and 12m² in medium East wind, and 7 to 9m² when it strengthens. Adjust according to your weight and level to remain controllable in potential swell.
The dominant wind comes from the East, side-on at the beach, with regular sessions in winter and spring. It can strengthen in the South-East, bringing swell. The strength typically ranges from 15 to 30 knots on the peninsula.
The Mediterranean climate of Hyères offers mild winters around 10-15°C and hot summers at 25-30°C. Spring and autumn are ideal for kitesurfing with pleasant temperatures between 15 and 22°C and consistent wind.
The region is sheltered by the Giens peninsula, which often protects from the mistral but amplifies the East winds.
The depth is shallow near the beach with a sandy bottom, walkable up to 50-100m from the shore depending on the tide. Beyond that, it gradually descends into deeper water.
The water is around 14-16°C in winter, 18-20°C in spring and autumn, and rises to 22-25°C in summer. A 4/3 wetsuit is recommended outside the summer season.