Kitesurfing, wing foiling and foiling at Oléron (Plaisance)

Plage de Plaisance lies north of Saint-Georges-d'Oléron on the Pertuis d'Antioche, right by the small harbour of Le Douhet, and according to the island's tourist office it looks out over the Île d'Aix and Fort Boyard. The beach faces north-east, so north-north-east and north-east are onshore and north and east come in side-on, while west and south are side-off and a south-westerly blows straight off the land. When the buoys are in place, you cross the 300 metre strip through the kite channel. According to the tourist office you launch on the harbour side, the bottom is sandy with a few rocky patches, and the water is easier to ride at low tide, so put the tide times next to the wind forecast.

When the buoys are in place, the kite route through the 300 m band runs via the kite chenal of Plage de Plaisance; riding in the swimming zone is banned. Outside the chenal, a 5-knot speed limit applies within 300 m. Source: préfet maritime 2024/120.

Wind directions & safety

The open water at Oléron (Plaisance) faces NE (37°). The safest wind directions to get on the water here are north, northeast and east (onshore or cross-onshore). With the wind from the southeast, south, west and northwest, it runs cross to cross-offshore: doable, but mind your position and don't go alone. With the wind from the southwest, 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 Oléron (Plaisance), plus your ideal kite or wing size and (where available) a live beach webcam. Wind data: AROME via Open-Meteo.