Overview

Van Strand is a beach spot on the Melkbosstrand coast, north of Big Bay. This sandy beach offers kitesurfing conditions with the south-easterly Cape Doctor in side-offshore to side-shore. The spot is wilder and less crowded than the Bloubergstrand beaches, bordered by dunes and coastal vegetation. Intermediate to advanced conditions due to the offshore wind component.

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Spot forecast for Van strand

Sunrise 05:58 · Sunset 19:03

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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 4.6 km from the spot.

Tuesday 20 October Low tide 05:00 · 0.7 m High tide 11:26 · 1.2 m Low tide 17:53 · 0.7 m High tide 23:48 · 1.2 m
Wednesday 21 October Low tide 05:55 · 0.6 m High tide 12:12 · 1.3 m Low tide 18:34 · 0.5 m
Thursday 22 October High tide 00:34 · 1.3 m Low tide 06:35 · 0.5 m High tide 12:47 · 1.5 m Low tide 19:08 · 0.4 m
Friday 23 October High tide 01:11 · 1.4 m Low tide 07:09 · 0.4 m High tide 13:20 · 1.6 m Low tide 19:39 · 0.3 m
Saturday 24 October High tide 01:45 · 1.5 m Low tide 07:42 · 0.3 m High tide 13:52 · 1.7 m Low tide 20:11 · 0.2 m

Van strand: 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

216h

in November · 22.5 rideable days

The season runs from September to April, peaking in November: 16 rideable days a month and 216 hours of usable wind, at 25 °C. The low point is July, at 2.5 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 55%13-20 knots · 42%21-30 knots · 3%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 55% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is July, at 16 °C. The wettest month is July, with 177 mm.

Monthly averages: Van strand

Monthly averages — Van strand — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	14.0	126 h	27 °C	4 mm
February	14.5	145 h	27 °C	3 mm
March	15.5	111 h	26 °C	34 mm
April	15.0	108 h	24 °C	16 mm
May	6.5	36 h	21 °C	34 mm
June	5.0	29 h	18 °C	80 mm
July	2.5	18 h	16 °C	177 mm
August	3.5	16 h	17 °C	71 mm
September	13.5	107 h	20 °C	19 mm
October	15.5	140 h	23 °C	12 mm
November	22.5	216 h	27 °C	6 mm
December	16.5	142 h	26 °C	9 mm

Photo gallery of Van strand

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Technical details of Van strand spot

The spot works with winds from SE, SSE, S.

Rideable Not rideable

Spot functioning

Works from October to March. Side-offshore wind requiring caution. Moderate to strong waves. All tides. Wild and uncrowded spot.

Spot opening date · Required level

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

On the water

Cold water (12-16°C), 4/3 or 5/3 wetsuit. Waves 1-2.5 m. Sandy bottom. Kelp. Smoother water surface thanks to offshore wind.

Parking

Parking along Otto du Plessis Drive. Little infrastructure. Don't leave valuables.

Wind specificities

SE Cape Doctor, side-offshore to side-shore depending on exact orientation. Wind of 15 to 35 knots from October to March. Offshore component requiring experience.

Hazards

Side-offshore wind that can push out to sea. Cold water. Waves. Kelp. Currents. Isolated spot. Car break-ins.

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Live

In memory of Patrice25.6 kmsource holfuy.com

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Additional stations

In25.6 km

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source gowind
ZA Seapoint 0m23.1 km

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source pgsonda.cz

All the details of your session on windtracker.app

Webcams near Van strand

Webcams provided by Windy.com

Nearby spots

All spots: Western Cape

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Van strand kitesurf and wingfoil spot