The site has just been updated: reload the page to get everything working again.
Portalban kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot
Switzerland · Friburg
Overview
Portalban is a great spot for west and southwest winds. It's a nice sandy beach with deep water quite far out. The local club (www.swisskite.ch) is very active and they organize the King of the Lake competition once a year, usually in late September. They also offer coaching services for beginners, a safety boat, and many other things. We can only recommend that you join the club.
Spot forecast for Portalban
Sunrise 07:08 · Sunset 17:23
Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo
Portalban: when to go?
Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)
126h
in June · 16.5 rideable days
Wind is uneven from month to month: the best months are January, June and April, at 17 rideable days and 15 °C. The low point is November, at 9 days.
Rideable days per month
Wind strength when it is rideable
When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 84% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is December, at 4 °C. The wettest month is June, with 160 mm.
Monthly averages: Portalban
| Month | Rideable days | Usable wind | Temperature | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17.5 | 132 h | 5 °C | 118 mm |
| February | 9.5 | 62 h | 8 °C | 50 mm |
| March | 11.0 | 79 h | 12 °C | 54 mm |
| April | 16.0 | 120 h | 15 °C | 52 mm |
| May | 12.0 | 92 h | 18 °C | 150 mm |
| June | 16.5 | 126 h | 24 °C | 160 mm |
| July | 16.0 | 110 h | 25 °C | 150 mm |
| August | 12.0 | 65 h | 26 °C | 154 mm |
| September | 14.0 | 106 h | 19 °C | 154 mm |
| October | 11.5 | 102 h | 14 °C | 129 mm |
| November | 9.0 | 66 h | 8 °C | 114 mm |
| December | 11.0 | 68 h | 4 °C | 53 mm |
Photo gallery of Portalban
Spot video
Technical details of Portalban spot
The spot works with winds from SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW.
Depending on conditions: N, NNE, NE.
Spot functioning map
Local association recommendations
Message from June 4, 2020:
Hello everyone, in order to provide you with accurate information about the procedures on Portalban beach, in anticipation of favorable weather conditions for navigation tomorrow and Saturday, I contacted Mr. Philippe Cotting, Mayor of Delley Portalban this afternoon. The position of the municipality regarding the duties of kitesurfers, windsurfers, and SUPs is clear: launching must be done in the designated area, even in bad weather or when there are no swimmers. Currently, no municipal regulation (but this could change!) allows the municipality to fine people for launching kites outside the designated area on the beach.
I would like to remind you that any navigation in the swimming area exposes the offender to a fine of 100 CHF, only the Police can issue fines. The term navigation is used when the person is on their board. A person with an open sail (flying kite) but standing next to their board is not subject to navigation laws. LNI, ONI.
Don't abuse this right and try to respect the rules in place as much as possible. The beach development plan started in 2009? should be validated this autumn and allow for new facilities for kitesurfing, and I hope, improve our comfort for launching.
Good sailing to all!
The committee - swisskite.ch
Spot functioning
Even though you'll always see riders launching through the swimming area, the official zone is the small beach (See map). It's certainly tighter and less pleasant than the large beach, but it's the price to pay for good cohabitation with other beach users.
Note that although the spot lends itself to it and it has been seen before, kite instruction should not take place in the swimming area!
Spot opening date · Required level
- Spot opening date
- Open all year round
- Required level
- Intermediate
Back to shore
Pour le retour à terre, si vous êtes pas sur de votre coup, rapprocher-vous du bord jusqu'à avoir votre fond, larguer et faites un self-rescue. Il vaut mieux une aile mouillée qu'un accident ou une aile cassée.
Parking
There is a very large parking area behind the spot. Just remember to pay for it. A bit further toward the port, there's also a building with toilets.
Wind specificities
It's mainly a southwest wind spot, but it also works with west winds thanks to the Joran (It can even be thermal in summer). The Bise (northeast wind) works too, but is much more irregular, and is a nice starting point for a downwind to Yvonand or in any case reserved for good riders.
In southwest winds, always look at the horizon to see if a squall is approaching (Strong gusts ahead!)
Hazards
The main danger of this spot is the launch area. You'll be on a sandy beach, but downwind from the port, and the official launch zone is small and sometimes a bit sketchy.
Don't launch through the swimming area, the fine is hefty and controls are increasingly frequent.
Something out of date? Suggest an edit
Live
CVN - Nid-du-Crô8.2 kmsource Holfuy
Readings reserved for Premium members
Live readings from CVN - Nid-du-Crô weather station are reserved for Premium members.
- Real-time readings
- Last 48 hours history
- Custom alerts
- Extended weather forecasts
Already a Premium member? Log in
Additional stations
-
Cudrefin6.3 km
Readings reserved for Premium members
source barani
-
GMR Avenches6.1 km
Readings reserved for Premium members
source holfuy.com
All the details of your session on windtracker.app
Schools, shops and places to stay nearby
Directory: Switzerland
Nearby spots
All spots: SwitzerlandComments 1
-
Fred | Let's Kite
Spot assez sympathique pour le sud ouest et le Joran (Vent qui descend du Jura). Un grand parking qu'il faut pas oublier de payer. Malheureusement la grande plage en sable n'est plus accessible aux kiteurs (même en hiver) mais il faut décoller de la petit plage un peu plus haut qui est pas idéale pour ceux qui ne sont pas très à l'aise. Ne pas hésitez à décoller depuis l'eau, on a pied assez loin.