Technical details of spot

Spot functioning

Expert wave spot — no formal organisation or marked zones. Experienced riders manage space naturally. Choose your launch point based on wave size and wind strength. Sessions are in open water facing the cape. Never ride alone — set up a safety system and inform someone on shore.

On the water

Open sea with powerful and well-formed waves of 1 to 3m+ in strong Maestrale. Sandy bottom near shore becoming rocky further out. The waves break along the cape creating classic wave riding conditions. Strong side-to-side offshore current during big swells. No flat water refuge — committed open ocean riding.

Required level

Expert

Spot opening date

Open all year round

Open year-round. Best season: May to October. Optimal conditions: June-September with the summer Maestrale. Avoid winter tramontane periods without appropriate equipment.

Parking

Gravel parking lot at the cape, accessible via a dirt track from the SP6 road near San Salvatore. Facilities in the nearby village of San Giovanni di Sinis. No services at the spot itself — bring water and food.

Hazards

Capo Mannu is an exposed, powerful spot — not suitable for beginners. Strong and gusty Mistral. Rocky entry points on both sides of the cape. Significant swell possible — watch for wave sets when entering and exiting. Keep distance from the cliffs to the north.

Wind specificities

The Maestrale hits Capo Mannu with no obstacles across hundreds of kilometres of open sea — making it one of the strongest and most consistent spots in the entire Mediterranean. It typically blows 20 to 40 knots in summer, often from early morning. The cape creates a marked acceleration zone with sudden gusts. No notable thermal reinforcement — the wind is purely synoptic. Wind shifts are rare but brutal when they occur.

Update

If you notice any outdated information:
Send an update