SPANIEN & PORTUGAL
Kitesurfing at Praia do Guincho
A wild Atlantic beach west of Lisbon. Thermally boosted by the Sintra hills, the wind builds from midday and can shut off abruptly in the afternoon. A strong wind spot, not a place to learn.
At a glance
| Water | waves |
| Wind quality | gusty |
| Typical wind | 20 kn |
| Usable directions | North to north-west (295–20°) |
| Season | April to September |
| Tide | small tidal range |
| Depth | deep |
Which kite size does this spot call for?
The table below is not copied from a chart. It is the same calculation the calculator on the front page runs, applied to this spot: waves and gusty wind both shift the size, and so does your body weight. The rule of thumb everyone quotes is calibrated to a 75 kg rider – above roughly 100 kg it drifts, which is why the table goes to 140.
| Rider | 15 kn | 20 kn | 26 kn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 kg | 8–9 m² | 6–7 m² | 4–5 m² |
| 75 kg | 9–10 m² | 7–8 m² | 5–6 m² |
| 90 kg | 11–12 m² | 8–9 m² | 6–7 m² |
| 105 kg | 13–14 m² | 9–10 m² | 7–8 m² |
| 120 kg | 14–15 m² | 11–12 m² | 8–9 m² |
| 140 kg | 15–17 m² | 12–13 m² | 9–10 m² |
Work this spot out with my own numbers
What is it doing right now?
Forecast wind for this spot, and – in Germany – the value actually measured at the nearest DWD station Where the tidal range matters, the current gauge reading from the federal waterways administration is shown too – a measured level with its direction of travel, not a tide prediction.. Nothing is fetched until you ask for it: press the button and your browser contacts the services, not before.
How often does it actually work here?
A wind statistic tells you how often the wind blows. That is not the same question. What matters is how many days your own kites carry you here – between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., for at least two hours, and only from the directions this spot can actually use (295–20°). The calculator works that out from five years of recorded hourly wind and tells you which size is missing from your quiver.
Count the rideable days for my quiver
What to watch out for
Dangerous undertow towards the rocks. There are fatal accidents every year. Experienced riders only.
All figures are researched regular conditions, not a forecast, and no substitute for a local briefing. Wind and water can look different here on any given day.