FRANKREICH & BELGIEN
Kitesurfing at Wissant
A wide sandy bay between two chalk headlands near Calais, one of France's top five wind spots. The dependable south-westerly is amplified by the funnel effect of the Channel. A popular downwinder runs towards Sangatte. A wave spot, not a place to learn.
At a glance
| Water | waves |
| Wind quality | steady enough |
| Typical wind | 20 kn |
| Usable directions | South-west to west (205–290°) |
| Season | October to March, possible year round |
| 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 steady enough 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 | 10–11 m² | 7–8 m² | 5–6 m² |
| 90 kg | 12–13 m² | 9–10 m² | 6–7 m² |
| 105 kg | 13–14 m² | 10–11 m² | 7–8 m² |
| 120 kg | 15–17 m² | 11–12 m² | 8–9 m² |
| 140 kg | 17 m² | 13–14 m² | 10–11 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 (205–290°). 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
At high water the beach disappears in places. Current can reach 11 knots.
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.