Overview

Ouistreham-Colleville is a kitesurf spot on the Calvados Côte de Nacre, at the Ouistreham seawall near the SNSM station. The spot is particularly suited to low tide: a navigation channel remains accessible almost year-round, even at low tide, allowing riders to reach the water.

Plan d'eau often choppy with small waves in strong onshore conditions. At high tide, the beach disappears and wind is disrupted by the seawall — avoid riding in those conditions. NE and NW winds are the most favourable. Summer sea breeze from NE is reliable in the afternoon. Located close to Merville-Franceville (15 min), the two spots complement each other.

Suggest an edit

Spot forecast for Ouistreham - Colleville (Côte de Nacre)

Sunrise 08:29 · Sunset 19:01

Open-Meteo

Premium weather models. Get the professional models (ECMWF, GFS, ICON, MeteoSwiss…) and a 16-day forecast. Without a subscription: Open-Meteo over 5 days.

Go Premium

< 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.

Go Premium

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 2.8 km from the spot.

Tuesday 20 October High tide 00:04 · 3.8 m Low tide 01:14 · 3.7 m High tide 05:18 · 5.8 m Low tide 05:22 · 5.8 m High tide 07:24 · 6 m Low tide 11:09 · 4 m High tide 12:12 · 4.1 m Low tide 13:50 · 3.8 m High tide 19:48 · 6.2 m
Wednesday 21 October Low tide 02:21 · 3.4 m High tide 08:23 · 6.4 m Low tide 14:49 · 3.4 m High tide 20:44 · 6.5 m
Thursday 22 October Low tide 03:13 · 2.9 m High tide 09:14 · 6.8 m Low tide 15:37 · 2.9 m High tide 21:33 · 6.9 m
Friday 23 October Low tide 03:58 · 2.4 m High tide 10:00 · 7.2 m Low tide 16:20 · 2.3 m High tide 22:17 · 7.3 m
Saturday 24 October Low tide 04:40 · 1.9 m High tide 10:41 · 7.6 m Low tide 17:01 · 1.8 m High tide 22:55 · 7.7 m

Ouistreham - Colleville (Côte de Nacre): 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

300h

in July · 27.5 rideable days

The season runs from April to September, peaking in July: 24 rideable days a month and 300 hours of usable wind, at 20 °C. The low point is January, at 12.5 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 76%13-20 knots · 23%21-30 knots · 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 76% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 8 °C. The wettest month is January, with 109 mm.

Monthly averages: Ouistreham - Colleville (Côte de Nacre)

Monthly averages — Ouistreham - Colleville (Côte de Nacre) — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	12.5	112 h	8 °C	109 mm
February	15.5	121 h	11 °C	56 mm
March	18.0	164 h	13 °C	41 mm
April	20.5	207 h	16 °C	22 mm
May	25.5	270 h	18 °C	43 mm
June	26.5	263 h	21 °C	43 mm
July	27.5	300 h	22 °C	79 mm
August	26.5	252 h	24 °C	26 mm
September	20.0	183 h	20 °C	93 mm
October	17.5	142 h	17 °C	71 mm
November	13.5	113 h	12 °C	63 mm
December	13.5	109 h	10 °C	34 mm

Photo gallery of Ouistreham - Colleville (Côte de Nacre)

This spot is waiting for its first images

Ridden here? One photo or video, and the spot comes alive for everyone discovering it.

Technical details of Ouistreham - Colleville (Côte de Nacre) spot

The spot works with winds from N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, W, WNW, NW, NNW.

Depending on conditions: ESE, WSW.

RideableDepending on conditions Not rideable

Local association recommendations

Côte Normande Kitesurf — club based in Ouistreham (33 Avenue de Trouville). Tel. 07 82 84 79 19. Affiliated FFVL.

La Clinique de la Planche — kitesurf and wingfoil school operating at Ouistreham (Riva Bella) and Merville-Franceville. ecole-kite-surf-normandie.fr — Tel. 02 31 84 80 62

Spot labeled FFVL.

Spot functioning

From Caen: take the ring road direction Ouistreham to the "rond-point de la Paix", turn left toward the beaches. Pass several roundabouts straight ahead, then at the sea turn left along the seawall to the point with the navigation channel. Ample parking facing the sea.

A buoyed channel remains almost year-round — always use it for launch and return. Launch your kite close to the water, never near the seawall. Low tide only: at high tide, the beach disappears.

Spot opening date · Required level

Spot opening date: Open all year round
Required level: Intermediate

Wind specificities

Ideal conditions: NE and NW at low tide. With NE, strong Venturi effect from the Orne estuary — often stronger than at neighbouring spots. NW: small choppy swell, side-onshore port tack. Avoid southerly winds (offshore). In summer, NE sea breeze builds in the afternoon and can reach 15-18 knots.

Hazards

Only rideable at low tide — at high tide the water reaches the seawall, the beach disappears completely and wind is disturbed by the seawall. Never launch near the seawall or houses — wind perturbation and risk of injury. In summer, the beach is heavily frequented by bathers — respect swimming zones.

Clapoteux water (small waves) with strong onshore winds. Navigation channel with buoys year-round (conical buoys on the left, cylindrical on the right when facing the sea) — respect the channel for exit and entry.

Something out of date? Suggest an edit

Live

Langrune7.9 kmsource gowind

Readings reserved for Premium members

Readings from Langrune weather station are reserved for Premium members.

Real-time readings
Last 48 hours history
Custom alerts
Extended weather forecasts

Discover Premium

Already a Premium member? Log in

Additional stations

BERNIERES12.4 km

Readings reserved for Premium members
source meteofrance
Caen-Carpiquet Airport Airport18.2 km

Readings reserved for Premium members
source aviationweather.gov