France
The Pesquiers beach in Hyères, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, is a kitesurfing spot located near the Giens peninsula, facing the Port-Cros national park. It is a popular place for its easy access to the water and calm atmosphere, often used as a fallback when conditions are too strong at the nearby Almanarre.
Close to the Salins des Pesquiers area, this beach offers direct access to a large protected bay. Riders find a designated area in season to coexist with other sea users.
The spot is particularly suitable for East winds, with a smoother water surface that is well-suited for relaxed sessions.
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 Pesquiers beach works well with East or Southeast winds, which become side-on to onshore in this area, creating a choppy but less violent water surface than on exposed spots. The water entry is easy on a bottom of small pebbles then sand, with a designated launch area in season between the specific access points of the road to Sel, near accesses 16-21 to avoid conflicts with bathers and windsurfers.
Navigation occurs beyond 300 meters via the marked channels (like the Mérou channel or Almanarre), mandatory for experienced riders to reach the free zone. With West or Northwest winds, the spot is more agitated with waves, better for freeride, but East offers an ideal mirror for freestyle or progression. Be cautious in the summer season: a Beach Marshall monitors from June 15 to September 15 and enforces the zones.
The water surface varies little with the tides thanks to the wide bay, but stay in the corridors for safety. It is a good fallback spot for beginners in kite or wingfoil during summer thermals (12-20 knots in the afternoon), with shallow water and weak current.
The ideal conditions are an East wind at 15-25 knots, side-on, for a flat and manageable water surface. With light thermals, it's perfect for progressing without stress.
The water state is often choppy with East winds, turning choppy or wavy with Mistral. The bay offers a wide and safe space, with no major underwater hazards once in the navigation area.
The current is generally weak in the protected bay, but it can strengthen near the marked channels where kitesurfers access the open sea. Tides have little influence on the spot, with a moderate range in the Mediterranean.
Opt for sizes from 9 to 12 m² with moderate East wind, and 7 to 9 m² when the Mistral strengthens. Beginners prefer 10-12 m² in shallow waters.
The dominant wind is the Mistral from the West or Northwest, steady and strong, which creates waves. With East wind (Marin), more humid and side-on, it creates flat conditions perfect for this spot. Summer thermals blow in late morning, between 12 and 20 knots.
The Mediterranean climate of Hyères offers mild temperatures year-round, with averages of 10-15°C in winter and 25-30°C in summer. The dry seasons dominate from May to October, ideal for kitesurfing, while winter remains navigable with strong winds but sunny days.
The depth is gradual with a sandy-pebble bottom, and you can stand up to 50-100 meters from the shore, ideal for first glides and waterstarts.
Water temperatures range from 14-16°C in winter to 22-26°C in summer. Wear a shorty wetsuit in spring and autumn, and a full wetsuit in winter.
