Kitesurfing, wing foiling and foiling at La Baule (K13)

The bay of La Baule and Pornichet has a flat sandy beach, and the tide shapes your session here, because at low tide the waterline lies far out. The beach faces south-south-west, so a south-south-westerly is straight onshore and south and west come in side-on, while winds from north-north-west to east blow offshore over the town. When the summer buoys are in place, you cross the 300 metres only through the K13 channel on the boundary between the two towns. The weather station on the Pointe de Chémoulin stands on a headland on the east side of the same bay, so the live data shows the wind in the bay, although it does not measure on the beach itself.

When the summer buoys are in place (mid-June to mid-September), kiters may only cross the 300 m band via chenal K13 on the La Baule/Pornichet boundary, then ride beyond 300 m. The chenal is for experienced kiters; schools are not allowed there. Outside kite zones and kite lanes, a 5-knot speed limit applies within 300 m of the shoreline. Source: préfet maritime 2023/121 and 2023/122, Pornichet ARR2026-212.

Wind directions & safety

The open water at La Baule (K13) faces SSW (211°). The safest wind directions to get on the water here are south, southwest and west (onshore or cross-onshore). With the wind from the north, east, southeast and northwest, it runs cross to cross-offshore: doable, but mind your position and don't go alone. With the wind from the northeast, 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 La Baule (K13), plus your ideal kite or wing size and (where available) a live beach webcam. Wind data: AROME via Open-Meteo.