Italy
Porto Pollo Beach, located in Palau, Sardinia, is a legendary spot for kitesurfing on the northeast coast, facing Corsica. The fine sandy beach stretches over a narrow peninsula that separates two bays, with a lively atmosphere thanks to schools and riders of all levels.
The west bay is reserved for kiters, while the east is for windsurfers, ensuring a dedicated and safe space. It is a popular place for its consistent wind and turquoise water, perfect for progression or freeriding.
The spot attracts an international community, especially in summer, with events and a friendly atmosphere around the kitesurfing centers.
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 navigation area is located in the west bay of the peninsula, a large open bay for kiters with a kite zone marked by buoys to avoid swimmers. The main wind, the Maestrale from the northwest, arrives side-on or side-onshore on this southwest-facing beach, enhanced by thermals in summer afternoons, allowing for riding over 80% of the days.
Launching is easy on the wide sandy beach, with a large take-off area to the left of the peninsula, away from swimming zones. The water is shallow for a long distance, ideal for beginners who stay close to the shore, while advanced riders can go further where it becomes choppy or wavy with strong wind.
No major influence from tides, the spot works at any time. In case of strong Mistral, waves up to 2 meters form for wave riding. Schools offer a safety boat, and there are separate zones to minimize risks.
Ideal conditions are with the northwest side-on Maestrale between 15 and 25 knots, stable and enhanced by thermals for perfect flat or chop. Avoid too onshore winds that make the water choppier.
The water ranges from flat to choppy depending on wind strength, with small to medium waves under strong Mistral up to 2 meters. The bottom is mostly sandy with some seagrass, and the water remains crystal clear.
Currents are generally weak in the west bay, making the spot safe for all levels. However, be cautious near the channel between the peninsula and Corsica where they can accelerate with the tide.
Tides have little impact on navigation, as the spot is independent of tides.
For typical winds of 10-30 knots, plan for 7 to 11m² sizes depending on your weight and level, with the smaller size for strong winter sessions.
The prevailing winds are the Maestrale from the northwest and the Scirocco from the southeast, which blow regularly throughout the year with 60-80% windy days. The Maestrale is consistent and strong, often enhanced by thermals in summer for smooth afternoon sessions.
In winter and spring, the wind can reach over 30 knots, while in summer it is around 10-20 knots, stable and predictable.
The Mediterranean climate of Porto Pollo offers hot summers from June to September with temperatures around 25-30°C, perfect for riding in shorts or lycra. Springs and autumns are mild, ideal for avoiding crowds, while in winter it gets cooler around 10-15°C but the wind remains reliable.
The water is warm in season, turquoise and clear all year round thanks to the sheltered position.
The depth is gradual with a sandy bottom and some seagrass, allowing for standing on a long distance from the shore, perfect for beginners and waterstarts.
In summer, the water reaches 22-25°C, with no need for a wetsuit. In spring and autumn around 18-22°C with a shorty, and 15-18°C in winter where a full suit is recommended.
