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Wairau Bar kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot

New Zealand · Marlborough

Spot currently openIntermediate level -41.5 | 174.06

Overview

Wairau Bar is a kitesurfing spot located at the mouth of the Wairau River, in the Marlborough region, on the north coast of the South Island. This spot is on the lido (sandbar) that separates the lagoon from the sea. The prevailing winds are from the north-east (sea breeze) and north-west, channelled by the Wairau Valley. South winds work as side-shore. The spot offers the option of sailing in the lagoon (flat water) or at sea (waves). Watch out for currents at the river mouth. Spot for intermediate to advanced riders.
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Spot forecast for Wairau Bar

Sunrise 06:27 · Sunset 19:50

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

Swell and tides over 8 days. Premium members see the swell and tides over 8 days. Without a subscription: 5 days.

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Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

Tides

Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 5.7 km from the spot.

6:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:00Tue 20Wed 21Thu 22Fri 23Sat 24 Now01:171.2 m07:200.4 m13:351.3 m20:030.4 m02:021.1 m08:100.4 m14:221.2 m20:540.4 m02:531.1 m09:030.4 m15:131.2 m21:460.4 m03:491.1 m09:590.4 m16:101.2 m22:370.4 m04:471.2 m10:560.4 m17:081.2 m23:290.3 m
  • Tuesday 20 October High tide · 1.2 m Low tide · 0.4 m High tide · 1.3 m Low tide · 0.4 m
  • Wednesday 21 October High tide · 1.1 m Low tide · 0.4 m High tide · 1.2 m Low tide · 0.4 m
  • Thursday 22 October High tide · 1.1 m Low tide · 0.4 m High tide · 1.2 m Low tide · 0.4 m
  • Friday 23 October High tide · 1.1 m Low tide · 0.4 m High tide · 1.2 m Low tide · 0.4 m
  • Saturday 24 October High tide · 1.2 m Low tide · 0.4 m High tide · 1.2 m Low tide · 0.3 m

Wairau Bar: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

361h

in December · 30.5 rideable days

The season runs from August to January, peaking in December: 28 rideable days a month and 361 hours of usable wind, at 18 °C. The low point is June, at 18.5 days.

Rideable days per month

0 10 20 30 40 January: 27 rideable days J February: 24.5 rideable days F March: 27 rideable days M April: 23 rideable days A May: 24 rideable days M June: 18.5 rideable days18.5 d J July: 19 rideable days J August: 25.5 rideable days A September: 28 rideable days S October: 29 rideable days O November: 27.5 rideable days N December: 30.5 rideable days30.5 d D 0 10 20 30 40 January: 27 rideable days J February: 24.5 rideable days F March: 27 rideable days M April: 23 rideable days A May: 24 rideable days M June: 18.5 rideable days18.5 d J July: 19 rideable days J August: 25.5 rideable days A September: 28 rideable days S October: 29 rideable days O November: 27.5 rideable days N December: 30.5 rideable days30.5 d D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 57%13-20 knots · 39%21-30 knots · 3%31+ knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 57% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is June, at 12 °C. The wettest month is June, with 131 mm.

Monthly averages: Wairau Bar
Monthly averages — Wairau Bar — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 27.0 231 h 21 °C 42 mm
February 24.5 214 h 22 °C 26 mm
March 27.0 228 h 20 °C 37 mm
April 23.0 179 h 18 °C 108 mm
May 24.0 177 h 15 °C 73 mm
June 18.5 132 h 12 °C 131 mm
July 19.0 131 h 12 °C 99 mm
August 25.5 202 h 13 °C 61 mm
September 28.0 288 h 15 °C 40 mm
October 29.0 330 h 17 °C 108 mm
November 27.5 308 h 20 °C 43 mm
December 30.5 361 h 22 °C 80 mm

Photo gallery of Wairau Bar

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Technical details of Wairau Bar spot

N: Rideable NNE: Rideable NE: Rideable ENE: Depending on conditions E: Depending on conditions ESE: Not rideable SE: Not rideable SSE: Depending on conditions S: Rideable SSW: Depending on conditions SW: Depending on conditions WSW: Depending on conditions W: Depending on conditions WNW: Rideable NW: Rideable NNW: Rideable N E S W

The spot works with winds from N, NNE, NE, S, WNW, NW, NNW.

Depending on conditions: ENE, E, SSE, SSW, SW, WSW, W.

RideableDepending on conditions Not rideable
Spot opening date · Required level
Spot opening date
Open all year round
Required level
Intermediate

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