Guadeloupe Info

[StellaBlu]

Looking for windsports info on Guadeloupe. I'm considering going there with my family in March and ideally would be getting some wing foiling in. Considering locations in Saint Francois or Sainte-Anne. Ideally consistent wind, depth for foiling and some accessible (non punchy) waves. Any recommended beaches for winging, or otherwise family friendly activities in the vicinity? Things to consider or be aware of?

Looks like a beautiful spot, accessible with direct flights and comparably reasonable prices.

Thanks!

[StellaBlu]

Bumping this for any info. Trip is booked and I will be in Saint Francois (near Le Manganao Hotel). I know there is wind, but info is pretty thin (particularly in English). Thanks for any tips.

[Havre]

Been to Sainte-Anne. Unfortunately I don’t foil and can’t remember how that would work exactly.

The spot east of the village has a reef. It is not deep inside either, but I guess should be deep enough. Can’t guarantee though. Space isn’t huge inside the reef, but should be enough. Said by someone not foiling.

The spot almost in the village is very shallow close to the launch. Not sure if it is deeper further out.

Wind is not great. I would expect 10–15 knots. Hopefully that is enough.

Guadeloupe generally is quite nice. A lot of old people from France, but also quite friendly. Would have gone back if the wind was better for a TT rider.

[bkkite]

Did you end up going? Any tips? I'm heading that way later this week.

[StellaBlu]

Yes, I went last spring. In a week I think I got four sessions in, only one of which was really good wind in a storm, otherwise it was super light (like 10-12 knots) and I was just barely making it work. The sargassum was also a big mess when I was there, which put a damper on foiling. I was staying near St Francois, which has a spot just downwind (west) of the marina with a beach launch and several schools. I was winging and it seemed like wingers were the majority although there were a few kiters. That said, the spot was a kind of strange for winging, you had to tack out through a cut in the reef, and then if you got pushed downwind outside of the reef (which happened a few times, since the wind kept dying), you then had to tack back up to the break in the reef to make it back. I think there is another launch on the farther side of the marina (upwind) which might have been a bit more straightforward. There were some easy waves outside of the reef to keep things interesting.

I also had one session near St Anne, which had a much better wave setup, but was also reefy and tricky to get out. Wish I could have had wind to explore that spot more as it had good potential. Pretty sure there was a kite school at the Club Med in St Anne.

Bottom line - we had a nice vacation, and it was easy to get to, but between the light wind, tricky reefs and sargassum, it wasn't an ideal setup for winging. If it had been blowing harder and the sargassum hadn't been such a mess, I probably would have ventured out to find some other spots, but it wasn't worth it with the wind conditions I had. I think the sargassum generally comes a little later in the spring, so you might not have the same issues I did. I just checked and wind looks a lot better than when I was there. There is a big downwind race there the 27th of Jan (Ze Race).

I highly recommend checking out the west island (Basse Tierre) on your down days. My understanding is that there aren't a lot of good wind spots there, but it was a really beautiful and diverse ecosystem and worth the trip (even dragging two young kids along).

[StellaBlu]

Not sure if this works, but here is a screenshot of the launch area from Google Maps. Red arrow is the beach where you can launch winging. The green arrow is a little grassy area where i think the kites were launching from. On the other side of the marina entry (near Ambiance Jet marker) I think there is another launch spot. The yellow arrow is the cut in the reef. THe stars are very shallow reef, so you need to make it out the cut or go into the main marina channel to get out.

[Sarda]

When I was there, quite a few years ago, 15 at a guess. Some guy tried telling me kiting wasn't permitted on the beach I was on. After a while I got him to talk, turns out he was a kiteschool owner and didn't want me there as I was not flying the brand he sold, and was concerned his students might prefer the kites I was using! (It takes all sorts), that was near Sainte Anne. I liked the North side of the peninsula around Pointe de Colibris most.

[StellaBlu]

I checked that spot and it was pounding with heavy waves on rocks. Can’t imagine how to get in the water there, at least with a foil. But the waves were massive and would have been fun far outside of the shorebreak. Beautiful spot and probably doable in some conditions or with a boat launch.

[lederhosen]

When I was there, quite a few years ago, 15 at a guess. Some guy tried telling me kiting wasn't permitted on the beach I was on. After a while I got him to talk, turns out he was a kiteschool owner and didn't want me there as I was not flying the brand he sold, and was concerned his students might prefer the kites I was using! (It takes all sorts), that was near Sainte Anne. I liked the North side of the peninsula around Pointe de Colibris most.

Was that the school in st Felix (a little west of st Anne)? I had first kite lesson there 15 years ago! They let us walk on the coral reef because it was nice and shallow to school on.

On the other side of the bay is petit havre, which has an awesome wave when at Francois is too big to get out on a foil StellaBlu.

[Sarda]

That I can't remember. He had walked quite a way from East of where I was. I think he was having a hard time dealing with the realities that he wasn't going to be living the rock star lifestyle any time soon by teaching and dealing kites on a holiday island!

It has always stuck in my mind, my ex wife and me were looking at property on the island. It was a bit of a turnoff.