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Royan is a kitesurf spot at the mouth of the Gironde estuary on the Charente coast. The beach faces west-southwest receiving Atlantic winds. The estuary creates specific tidal conditions — strong currents, especially on spring tides. A picturesque urban beach spot with all services in the famous Art Déco resort town. The ferry crossing to Le Verdon is visible from the water.
Launch from the main Royan beach. Best conditions in southwest to northwest wind at mid to high tide. Monitor tidal currents carefully — they can be very strong at the estuary mouth during spring tides. Port navigation traffic to watch for. Self-organised spot.
Estuary mouth with significant tidal currents up to 3-4 knots on spring tides. Sandy beach with moderate chop of 0.3 to 0.8m in southwest to northwest wind. Swell dampened by the estuary geometry compared to open Atlantic beaches. Tidal range up to 5m — beach width varies enormously between tides.
Intermediate
Open all year round
Open year-round. Best season: May to October. The ferry Royan-Le Verdon runs year-round — check schedules for navigation awareness. Busy beach in summer — early sessions recommended.
Southwest to northwest winds are most reliable at Royan, building on Atlantic systems and summer thermal cycle. North wind is also usable. The estuary mouth can create wind acceleration or shadow effects depending on direction. The city buildings may cause some turbulence close to shore — move out towards the Gironde for cleaner air.
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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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