Kitesurfing, wing foiling and foiling at Beauduc (La Comtesse)

Beauduc is a nature area in the south-east of the Camargue, and according to the Arles tourist office's FAQ you may only kite in the Comtesse sector, on the right as you arrive, where buoys separate the kite zone from the central beach. People also swim and fish there, without lifeguards, so give them room in strong wind. The tide plays no part, and the Arles weather station is almost fourteen kilometres away in the middle of the Camargue. The beach faces west-south-west, into the Golfe de Beauduc, so west and west-south-west are onshore and south-west and north-west come in side-on, the north-westerly mistral included, while an easterly blows off the land and Windulu then gives a no-go.

Kiting is only allowed in the Comtesse sector, to the right as you arrive and north of the car park; sail-powered watersports are always banned on the Pointe de Beauduc, and in a second zone from 1 April to 30 September. Outside kite zones and kite lanes, a 5-knot speed limit applies within 300 m of the shoreline. Source: AM Arles 14DAT001, arles.fr.

Wind directions & safety

The open water at Beauduc (La Comtesse) faces W (259°). The safest wind directions to get on the water here are southwest, west and northwest (onshore or cross-onshore). With the wind from the north, northeast, southeast and south, it runs cross to cross-offshore: doable, but mind your position and don't go alone. With the wind from the east, it blows offshore and is dangerous: you'll be pushed off the beach onto open water (no-go).

On this page you'll find the live wind, the hourly forecast and a personal go/no-go for Beauduc (La Comtesse), plus your ideal kite or wing size and (where available) a live beach webcam. Wind data: AROME via Open-Meteo.