France
The Aber Vrac'h beach in Landéda, Brittany, is located by the port at the mouth of the Aber Wrac'h. It is a popular spot for intermediate and expert riders due to its easy access from the parking lot next to the port.
Surrounded by islets and sandbanks, the area offers a natural setting with often calm waters inside. There is a local kite school, Rêve O Kite, and a nearby sailing center.
The spot is oriented towards the west and northwest, perfect for the prevailing winds in the region.
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.
flatflatThe spot works well with winds from N, NNE, NE in side-shore or side-on relative to the west-northwest oriented beach. At high tide, a natural pool forms between the islets, offering a flat to chop water surface sheltered from the swell, ideal for water starts and freestyle.
Launching is done directly from the sandy beach near the port, with a small access next to the jetty. The take-off area is on the grass nearby or on the beach at low tide. At all tides, you can ride wide, but at high tide with high coefficients, the space for take-off reduces, prefer mid-tide.
Navigation areas extend over the north and south beaches, vast space with sandbanks to stand for a long time. In foil, possible at low tide between islets by walking a bit to find depth. Be cautious of swimming zones in summer and boat traffic in the aber.
Ideal conditions with wind N-NE 15-25 kts, clean side-on without excessive gusts. High mid-tide to maximize space and flat pool.
Water conditions are flat to chop in the protected inner area by the islets. Swell is limited unless exposed to the northwest, then it becomes choppy with short waves.
Sporadic seaweed on sandbanks, generally clean bottom.
Currents are moderate at the mouth of the Aber Wrac'h, influenced by tides. They accelerate near the access channel to the port, especially at high tide.
Be cautious of rapid changes at mid-tide.
Opt for sizes from 9 to 11m² in light to moderate winds, 7 to 9m² when it exceeds 20 kts. Adjust according to weight and level, favor freestyle or freeride.
The winds are consistent from the north to northeast, typical of the Breton abers. No specific local name, but average strength of 15-25 kts in season, with more pronounced gusts.
The best months cover the whole year according to data, but the wind is more consistent from September to April.
The Breton climate is oceanic with mild temperatures in summer around 18-22°C, and cold in winter dropping to 5-10°C. Wet seasons dominate with frequent rain, especially in autumn and winter.
Warm summer for shorts and short lycra, winter requires a thick wetsuit.
The depth is gradual with a sandy bottom. You can stand up to 50-100m in the bank areas, perfect for body dragging and learning.
In summer, the water is around 16-18°C, comfortable in a shorty. Winter around 10-12°C, a 5/3 wetsuit is essential. Spring and autumn are intermediate at 13-15°C.
