Kitesurfing, wing foiling and foiling at La Torche (Pors Carn)

Pors Carn is the bay between Saint-Guénolé and the Pointe de la Torche, a famous surf spot according to the local tourist office, and you can tell from the waves that roll in here off the open ocean. The beach faces north-west, so a north-westerly blows straight onshore and west and north come in side-on, while a south-easterly blows offshore over the land. The tide matters a lot, because at low tide the rock shelves on the south side and around the point dry out, and a strong current runs along the Pointe de la Torche. When the buoys are in place, you cross the 300 metre strip only through the kite channel, so this is a spot for kiters who can handle shorebreak and current.

When the buoys are in place, the only kite and wing route within 300 m runs through the chenal in the middle of the bay of Pors Carn, on the boundary between Penmarc'h and Plomeur. In July and August, kiting is banned in the lifeguarded swimming zone at La Torche. Outside kite zones and kite lanes, a 5-knot speed limit applies within 300 m of the shoreline. Source: préfet maritime 2022/155, Plomeur AR-2023-3859.

Wind directions & safety

The open water at La Torche (Pors Carn) faces NW (318°). The safest wind directions to get on the water here are north, west and northwest (onshore or cross-onshore). With the wind from the northeast, east, south and southwest, it runs cross to cross-offshore: doable, but mind your position and don't go alone. With the wind from the southeast, 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 Torche (Pors Carn), plus your ideal kite or wing size and (where available) a live beach webcam. Wind data: AROME via Open-Meteo.