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La Torche is the most famous kitesurf spot in France and one of the most celebrated in Europe. Located on the commune of Plomeur in the Pays Bigouden (Finistère), this rocky headland juts into the Baie d'Audierne and offers two completely different faces: the right side (La Torche / Tronoën beach, Plomeur commune) and the left bay (Pors Carn, Penmarc'h commune).
Classified Espace Naturel Sensible and Natura 2000. FFVL-labelled spot. Local association BAF Kite (Bigouden Air Force) — members in red lycra, present on the spot and available to help with launches.
MANDATORY RULES:
FORBIDDEN to launch your kite on the grass or dune at any time of year — rig and derig on the beach only.
June 15 to Sept 15: right side of the point tacitly reserved for surfers (local agreement — must be respected). Left side (Pors Carn, Penmarc'h commune): kite only in the yellow-buoy channel (prefectoral order) — do not exceed the end of the channel.
FFVL-labelled spot.
BAF Kite (Bigouden Air Force) is the local kitesurf association — members recognisable by their red lycra, always ready to assist with launches and ensure local rules are respected. Website: baf-kite.org
Local kitesurf schools: La Torche Kite Surf (Yvan Quilfen, BPJEPS, itinerant spots in southern Finistère), So Kite.
From Quimper, head for Pont-l'Abbé then Plomeur. At the exit of Plomeur, turn right towards La Torche (D785). Large free car park on the spot (2 disabled spaces). Toilets, showers, crêperies and surf shops on site. Campervans: grassed area 500m away.
For kitesurf:
NW/W/SSW wind (right side, off-season): launch and land on the La Torche side, north beach of the headland. Large open launch area.
NE/N wind (Pors Carn, left side): access via Parking des Cyprès (Penmarc'h side). Enter water via the buoyed channel in season.
In summer: if the zone near the point is occupied by families, move to the middle of the Pors Carn bay — harder car access means fewer people.
Rigging: grassed area for inflation/deflation only — launching on vegetation is strictly forbidden. BAF Kite members in red can assist with launches.
Beach lifeguard supervision: July-August by the SDIS du Finistère, 13:30–19:30.
Beach break with sandy bottom. Waves from 0.5m to 3m+ depending on swell and season. Waves peel for tens of metres along the point. An "ascenseur" (rip channel) runs along the right side of the point — allows surfers and kitesurfers to pass the break easily without paddling out hard. At low tide, calmer zones suitable for freestyle.
Tides: rideable at all tides but the morphology changes dramatically. High tide: narrow beach, shorebreak, reduced launch space. Low tide: very wide beach, good sandbars, "Les Méchants" rocks exposed to the NW of Pors Carn — strictly avoid this zone.
Strong lateral currents — baïnes (rip currents) can be very powerful. Never ride alone.
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Open all year round
Open year-round. Accessible 24/7 outside seasonal restrictions.
Beach lifeguard supervision (SDIS 29): July-August, 13:30–19:30.
Summer kitesurf restrictions (15 June – 15 September):
Right side (La Torche/Plomeur): tacit agreement — reserved for surfers. Do not kite in this zone.
Left side (Pors Carn/Penmarc'h): kite only in the yellow-buoy channel (prefectoral order). Navigation limit = end of the channel.
Year-round: FORBIDDEN to launch on grass, dunes or car parks. Rig and derig on the beach only, at all times.
Large free car park with direct spot access, including 2 disabled spaces. Toilets and showers on the car park. Campervans: grassed area 500m away, no services. Alternative access on the Pors Carn side via Parking des Cyprès (Penmarc'h commune).
Les Méchants: rocky reef visible at low tide northwest of Pors Carn — strictly avoid, dangerous sucking currents.
Baïnes and lateral currents: very powerful, can carry a rider away quickly. Survey the beach at low tide before riding.
Shared spot: large numbers of surfers, bodyboarders, SUP and swimmers. Right side tacitly reserved for surfers in summer. Manage right of way carefully at all times.
Dunes and vegetation: Natura 2000 zone — never cross the ganivelles (dune protection fences), respect all marked paths.
Wetsuit: required year-round — 3/2mm in summer, 5/4mm or 6/5mm with hood and boots in winter.
Swimming prohibited outside lifeguard hours — tell someone on shore before riding.
The dominant wind is northwest, which funnels powerfully around both sides of the headland giving side-on to side-onshore conditions — ideal for wave kiting. Seasonal breakdown:
Spring (Mar-May): west to southwest winds, moderate to strong swell, uncrowded — best period for advanced kitesurfers.
Summer (Jun-Sep): northwest thermal 12–18kt, consistent from late morning to 6pm. Smaller swell but usually present. Very crowded.
Autumn (Oct-Nov): powerful Atlantic depressions, swell 1.5–3m+. West to SW dominant. Excellent for wave kiting.
Winter: storms, swell up to 4m. Experts only.
Right side (SW/NW): side-onshore starboard tack, ideal angle for waveriding. Pors Carn side (NE/NW): side-on starboard. Wind is consistently stronger than forecasts suggest — the headland creates local acceleration.
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Currently, there is no weather station at this spot. If you want to change this, help us fund one: Weather Station Project
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