Kitesurfing, wing foiling and foiling at Wissant

Wissant lies in the bay between Cap Gris-Nez and Cap Blanc-Nez, and the tide plays a big part here: the range between high and low water is large, so the waterline moves a long way in a few hours, and between the two capes a strong tidal current runs parallel to the coast. The beach faces north-west, so a north-westerly is straight onshore and west and north come in side-on, while south-west and north-east blow almost along the beach and winds from east to south blow offshore over the land. The weather station sits on top of Cap Gris-Nez, 48 metres up, so it probably measures more wind than you get down on the beach, which is worth keeping in mind when you read the live data.

In July and August, rigging, launching and landing are banned in the boat lane at rue Arlette Davids, in the swimming zone and in the 50 m buffer zones next to them; there you may only ride beyond 300 m. Kite to the northeast of the swimming zone, towards Blanc-Nez. Outside kite zones and kite lanes, a 5-knot speed limit applies within 300 m of the shoreline. Source: Wissant municipality, arrêté 2024-AODP-82, art. 8; préfecture maritime, arrêté 93/2022.

Wind directions & safety

The open water at Wissant faces NW (311°). 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 Wissant, plus your ideal kite or wing size and (where available) a live beach webcam. Wind data: AROME via Open-Meteo.