Overview

Kitesurf

Île aux Oiseaux is a FFVL-approved kitesurf spot around the famous bird island in the Bassin d'Arcachon (Gironde) — accessible only by boat. The island is a protected natural reserve. Equipment must be rigged onshore and launched from the water beside the anchored boat, requiring at least two people aboard for mutual assistance.

The great advantage is the ability to reposition around the island to always find a side-on orientation whatever the wind direction. The NW sea breeze is typical; W and SW winds occur with low pressure. Be extremely careful of oyster farm stakes throughout the basin. Wading requires shoes (oyster shells). Accessible 2 hours before and after high tide only. Allow 10-20 minutes by boat depending on departure point. The island itself must not be used as a launching area.

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Spot forecast for Ile aux oiseaux

Sunrise 08:26 · Sunset 19:12

Open-Meteo

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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 1.7 km from the spot.

Tuesday 20 October High tide 00:18 · 2.8 m Low tide 06:51 · 1.8 m High tide 12:58 · 3 m Low tide 19:40 · 1.6 m
Wednesday 21 October High tide 02:02 · 3 m Low tide 07:56 · 1.6 m High tide 14:10 · 3.2 m Low tide 20:30 · 1.4 m
Thursday 22 October High tide 02:47 · 3.2 m Low tide 08:42 · 1.4 m High tide 14:52 · 3.5 m Low tide 21:09 · 1.1 m
Friday 23 October High tide 03:21 · 3.5 m Low tide 09:21 · 1.1 m High tide 15:26 · 3.7 m Low tide 21:44 · 0.8 m
Saturday 24 October High tide 03:51 · 3.7 m Low tide 09:57 · 0.9 m High tide 16:00 · 4 m Low tide 22:18 · 0.6 m

Ile aux oiseaux: 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

398h

in May · 31 rideable days

The spot works year-round: 29 rideable days a month on average, at 18 °C. It peaks in May, with 398 hours of usable wind.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 66%13-20 knots · 29%21-30 knots · 5%31+ knots · 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 66% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 11 °C. The wettest month is September, with 107 mm.

Monthly averages: Ile aux oiseaux

Monthly averages — Ile aux oiseaux — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	26.5	255 h	11 °C	93 mm
February	23.5	226 h	13 °C	84 mm
March	30.5	330 h	14 °C	81 mm
April	29.5	364 h	17 °C	55 mm
May	31.0	398 h	18 °C	53 mm
June	29.5	339 h	23 °C	55 mm
July	31.0	369 h	24 °C	11 mm
August	30.5	303 h	26 °C	45 mm
September	30.0	323 h	21 °C	107 mm
October	27.5	269 h	20 °C	67 mm
November	28.0	252 h	16 °C	74 mm
December	27.5	255 h	12 °C	68 mm

Photo gallery of Ile aux oiseaux

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Technical details of Ile aux oiseaux spot

The spot works with winds from N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW.

Rideable Not rideable

Spot opening date · Required level

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

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Arcachon6.1 kmsource gowind

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Additional stations

CAP-FERRET9.8 km

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source meteofrance
La7.3 km

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source gowind

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Schools, shops and places to stay nearby

Directory: France

Nearby spots

All spots: Nouvelle-Aquitaine

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Ile aux oiseaux kitesurf spot