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Spot de La Gracieuse

La Gracieuse kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot

France · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

43.39 | 4.91

Overview

La Gracieuse — a 6 km long sandy strip, a protected area west of the Gulf of Fos-sur-Mer. A wild and unique spot, lost between nature and industry, with a desert-like feel. Wrecks of barges and stranded sailboats add an adventurous touch. Accessible only on foot or by boat — which preserves its wild character. KAP (Kitesurf Adventure Project) takes its students there by boat from Carteau (10 min). Shallow and flat water — ideal for learning. All conditions for all levels: flat near the shore, waves on the sea side (right of the spot), open water for foilers. You ride onshore to side-on — fairly safe spot. A reference Mistral spot — dominant powerful NW wind.
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La Gracieuse: when to go?

The spot works year-round: 27 rideable days a month on average, at 19 °C. It peaks in May, with 319 hours of usable wind.

Rideable days per month

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Wind strength when it is rideable

16-22 knots · 41% 22-30 knots · 37% 30-40 knots · 20% 40+ knots · 2%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 16 and 22 knots — 41% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 11 °C. The wettest month is December, with 25 mm. Bar height is the month's rideable days; the split shows how its wind hours break down by strength.

Monthly averages — La Gracieuse — averaged over 3 years of records
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 25.7 217 h 11 °C 5 mm
February 25.0 230 h 13 °C 11 mm
March 28.3 283 h 14 °C 23 mm
April 27.7 329 h 17 °C 6 mm
May 29.7 319 h 21 °C 21 mm
June 29.3 365 h 25 °C 13 mm
July 29.3 346 h 28 °C 1 mm
August 28.0 310 h 28 °C 2 mm
September 27.3 273 h 24 °C 14 mm
October 23.3 216 h 21 °C 14 mm
November 23.3 221 h 16 °C 17 mm
December 26.0 217 h 13 °C 25 mm

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Technical details of La Gracieuse spot

Spot currently open :-)
Local association recommendations
KAP (Kitesurf Adventure Project): kitesurf/wingfoil school, lessons at La Gracieuse (boat access from Carteau, 10 min), 4h sessions, all equipment provided + radio — kitesurfadventureproject.com. Booster-Kite: kitesurf school Port-Saint-Louis — booster-kite.fr. Clubs/associations: GreenBull, DMC Kite, Fous d'Ailes. Classified nature reserve — respect fauna and flora.
Spot functioning
Access option 1: Plage Napoléon car park (€3 in summer), park on the left side facing the sea, follow the path behind the dune to the hunters' cabins (15-20 min walk). Or launch by kite from Napoléon and ride upwind into the cove. Access option 2: downwind from Anse de Carteau by kite — watch out for mussel farms! To return, ride upwind (don't wait too long if the forecast drops). Access option 3: boat from Carteau (schools KAP, Booster-Kite). Dominant NW wind (Mistral): onshore to side-on, ideal conditions. In S wind: prefer Napoléon or Carteau. Mid-June to mid-September: vehicle circulation prohibited (bird nesting), kiting still allowed in the water.
Spot opening date

Open all year round

Required level

Beginner

Parking
NO parking at the spot — access on foot or by boat only. Nearest car park: Plage Napoléon (paid in summer ~€3-4, free off-season). Then 15-20 min walk along the coastline. Dry toilets at the entrance of the Napoléon car park. No shops on La Gracieuse — bring water and food.
Wind specificities
Mistral NW: THE reference wind — onshore to side-on, powerful. Flat near the shore, waves on the sea side. Ideal conditions. N (Mistral): works well, side-on. W/WSW: works, cross-onshore. S: not ideal from La Gracieuse — prefer Plage Napoléon or Carteau. SE/E: doesn't work here — go to Carteau (direct, onshore).
Hazards
Access only on foot (15-20 min from Plage Napoléon) or by boat/kite from Carteau/Napoléon. No shops on site — bring water and food. Nature reserve: vehicle circulation prohibited mid-June to mid-September (bird nesting). Respect marked trails, do not leave any waste. Mussel farms between Carteau and Gracieuse — watch out during downwind! If the forecast drops, don't wait too long to ride upwind back to Carteau. Mistral NW can be powerful — adapt your equipment.
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Spot forecast for La Gracieuse
07:15 19:58
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