France
Anse Champagne beach, located in Saint-François in Guadeloupe, is a large stretch of white sand very popular with locals and tourists. Easily accessible by road after the golf course or by the lagoon, it offers a typical Caribbean setting with its turquoise waters and palm trees. It is a favored starting point for kitesurfers and windsurfers, in a lively atmosphere.
Close to the fishing port and the Méridien, this spot is part of the Saint-François lagoon, known for its windy conditions thanks to the trade winds. Riders come here for sessions in a paradisiacal setting, although take-off requires experience. A tourist accommodation project is underway on-site, which could slightly change the atmosphere.
Surrounded by various beaches like Grande Saline, Anse Champagne remains a solid choice to enjoy the steady wind of the southeastern region of Grande-Terre.
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.
chop
flatThe spot mainly works with an East or East-South-East wind, arriving side-on or side-shore relative to the southeast-facing beach. In the lagoon of Saint-François, the water surface is generally flat to chop, ideal for freeride and freestyle, but it can become irregular with North-East wind if staying too close to the shore. The navigation area extends into the vast clear lagoon, with a technical launch near the rocks and pebbles at the shore; one must master self-launching well to take off in the restricted grassy area.
The take-off area is small and exposed, with trees and houses to avoid, so be cautious when landing the kite. Offshore, towards the coral reef, one can look for small waves formed, accessible by boat via local schools like those of the nautical club. Tides have little influence on the protected lagoon, but be careful in the passes where the current can accelerate. This is a spot for independent riders, with often light and consistent wind from December to June.
The ideal conditions are an East to East-South-East wind between 15 and 20 knots, side-on, for a flat and consistent water surface in the lagoon. Avoid pure North-East winds which make the wind irregular near the shore.
The water surface is flat in the lagoon, becoming chop with strong winds or near the passes. Offshore, small waves form on the reef, suitable for light surfing. The water remains clear and turquoise, with a gradual sandy bottom.
In the protected lagoon, the current is generally weak, but it strengthens in the passes and channels towards the coral reef. Tides are moderate in Guadeloupe, with a range of about 0.5 to 1 meter, having little impact on inland navigation.
Opt for larger sizes like 12 to 15 m² given the often light wind between 12 and 25 knots. In more sustained sessions, go down to 9-11 m².
The East trade winds dominate, blowing regularly between 12 and 25 knots, often light but consistent, perfect for long sessions. The regime is reliable from December to June, with peaks in winter up to 20 knots. In North-East winds, the spot loses consistency near the coast.
The tropical climate of Saint-François offers warm temperatures year-round, around 28-30°C in the air and 27-29°C in the water. The winter from December to March is the peak season for trade winds, with sunny weather and little rain. The months from June to November see more showers related to the rainy season, but wind windows remain possible.
The depth is gradual with a sandy bottom in the lagoon, allowing standing up to about fifty meters from the shore. Deeper in the center, perfect for beginners in shallow water before heading offshore.
The water is warm year-round at 27-29°C, with no need for a wetsuit in the Caribbean winter. Slight drop to 26°C during the rainy season.
