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Pensacola Beach / Santa Rosa Island kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot

United States · Florida

Spot currently openIntermediate levelAltitude 4 m 30.33 | -87.14

Overview

Pensacola Beach is a major kitesurfing spot in the Florida Panhandle, located on Santa Rosa Island, a long barrier island facing the Gulf of Mexico. The white quartz sand beaches are among the most beautiful in the world. The beach faces south with a generally calm gulf, offering flat to moderate chop conditions. Pensacola is also a hub of American military history (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Blue Angels). The kite community is active and the spot regularly hosts events.

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Spot forecast for Pensacola Beach / Santa Rosa Island

Sunrise 06:54 · Sunset 18:12

Open-Meteo

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

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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 2.6 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 Now03:050.6 m14:500.3 m06:080.5 m13:550.3 m21:570.4 m00:310.4 m07:240.5 m13:580.4 m20:130.5 m02:040.4 m08:480.5 m14:030.4 m20:040.5 m03:150.3 m12:390.5 m13:300.5 m20:010.6 m
  • Tuesday 20 October High tide · 0.6 m Low tide · 0.3 m
  • Wednesday 21 October High tide · 0.5 m Low tide · 0.3 m High tide · 0.4 m
  • Thursday 22 October Low tide · 0.4 m High tide · 0.5 m Low tide · 0.4 m High tide · 0.5 m
  • Friday 23 October Low tide · 0.4 m High tide · 0.5 m Low tide · 0.4 m High tide · 0.5 m
  • Saturday 24 October Low tide · 0.3 m High tide · 0.5 m Low tide · 0.5 m High tide · 0.6 m

Pensacola Beach / Santa Rosa Island: 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

277h

in May · 28.5 rideable days

The season runs from March to July, peaking in May: 25 rideable days a month and 277 hours of usable wind, at 28 °C. The low point is October, at 11.5 days.

Rideable days per month

0 10 20 30 January: 12.5 rideable days J February: 14 rideable days F March: 20.5 rideable days M April: 26.5 rideable days A May: 28.5 rideable days28.5 d M June: 26.5 rideable days J July: 23.5 rideable days J August: 15.5 rideable days A September: 13.5 rideable days S October: 11.5 rideable days11.5 d O November: 13.5 rideable days N December: 12 rideable days D 0 10 20 30 January: 12.5 rideable days J February: 14 rideable days F March: 20.5 rideable days M April: 26.5 rideable days A May: 28.5 rideable days28.5 d M June: 26.5 rideable days J July: 23.5 rideable days J August: 15.5 rideable days A September: 13.5 rideable days S October: 11.5 rideable days11.5 d O November: 13.5 rideable days N December: 12 rideable days D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 81%13-20 knots · 18%21-30 knots · 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 81% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 15 °C. The wettest month is September, with 197 mm.

Monthly averages: Pensacola Beach / Santa Rosa Island
Monthly averages — Pensacola Beach / Santa Rosa Island — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 12.5 116 h 15 °C 137 mm
February 14.0 115 h 19 °C 65 mm
March 20.5 188 h 21 °C 183 mm
April 26.5 256 h 25 °C 43 mm
May 28.5 277 h 29 °C 138 mm
June 26.5 206 h 32 °C 96 mm
July 23.5 165 h 33 °C 55 mm
August 15.5 105 h 33 °C 77 mm
September 13.5 94 h 30 °C 197 mm
October 11.5 96 h 27 °C 89 mm
November 13.5 102 h 22 °C 185 mm
December 12.0 83 h 18 °C 162 mm

Photo gallery of Pensacola Beach / Santa Rosa Island

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Technical details of Pensacola Beach / Santa Rosa Island spot

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

The spot works with winds from E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W.

Rideable Not rideable
Spot opening date · Required level
Spot opening date
Open all year round
Required level
Intermediate
On the water

The water body faces the Gulf of Mexico with a gently sloping white sandy bottom. The emerald water is warm and clear. In south winds, flat to chop conditions. In fronts (southwest), more pronounced waves are possible. The bay side (Pensacola Bay) to the north offers flat water in north winds — possibility to ride on both sides of the island depending on wind.

Hazards

In northerly winds, conditions are offshore on the gulf side — ride on the bay side instead. Pensacola Pass to the west creates strong currents — do not drift toward the inlet. The Blue Angels train over the area — occasional airspace restrictions. Longshore drift currents. Jellyfish possible in summer.

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