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Pointe Rouge - Escale Borely kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot

France · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Spot currently openExpert level 43.24 | 5.37

Overview

Pointe Rouge (Escale Borély) — THE iconic kitesurf spot of Marseille. A unique urban spot in France, accessible by public transport or bicycle. Magnificent views of the Frioul archipelago and the beginnings of the calanques. Beautiful waves on Mistral days. TWO BEACHES depending on the season: Bonneveine / Prado beach (October-May) and Vieille Chapelle beach in front of the Red Lion pub (June-September). Reserved for experienced riders — breakwaters, rocks, limited space, gusty Mistral. For beginners, prefer Le Jaï (Martigues), Carteau or La Gracieuse.

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Spot forecast for Pointe Rouge - Escale Borely

Sunrise 07:57 · Sunset 18:49

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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 4.8 km from the spot.

6:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:00Mon 19Tue 20Wed 21Thu 22Fri 23 Now02:190.2 m09:260.1 m16:400.3 m00:150.1 m04:070.2 m10:480.1 m17:450.3 m00:520.1 m05:420.2 m11:470.1 m18:270.3 m01:230.1 m06:400.2 m12:380.1 m19:010.3 m01:510.1 m07:220.2 m13:270.1 m19:330.3 m
  • Monday 19 October High tide · 0.2 m Low tide · 0.1 m High tide · 0.3 m
  • Tuesday 20 October Low tide · 0.1 m High tide · 0.2 m Low tide · 0.1 m High tide · 0.3 m
  • Wednesday 21 October Low tide · 0.1 m High tide · 0.2 m Low tide · 0.1 m High tide · 0.3 m
  • Thursday 22 October Low tide · 0.1 m High tide · 0.2 m Low tide · 0.1 m High tide · 0.3 m
  • Friday 23 October Low tide · 0.1 m High tide · 0.2 m Low tide · 0.1 m High tide · 0.3 m

Pointe Rouge - Escale Borely: 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

328h

in May · 30.5 rideable days

The season runs from March to September, peaking in May: 29 rideable days a month and 328 hours of usable wind, at 24 °C. The low point is November, at 20 days.

Rideable days per month

0 10 20 30 40 January: 21 rideable days J February: 23.5 rideable days F March: 28.5 rideable days M April: 27.5 rideable days A May: 30.5 rideable days30.5 d M June: 29.5 rideable days J July: 29 rideable days J August: 29 rideable days A September: 27 rideable days S October: 25 rideable days O November: 20 rideable days20 d N December: 20.5 rideable days D 0 10 20 30 40 January: 21 rideable days J February: 23.5 rideable days F March: 28.5 rideable days M April: 27.5 rideable days A May: 30.5 rideable days30.5 d M June: 29.5 rideable days J July: 29 rideable days J August: 29 rideable days A September: 27 rideable days S October: 25 rideable days O November: 20 rideable days20 d N December: 20.5 rideable days D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 54%13-20 knots · 35%21-30 knots · 10%31+ knots · 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 54% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 13 °C. The wettest month is March, with 109 mm.

Monthly averages: Pointe Rouge - Escale Borely
Monthly averages — Pointe Rouge - Escale Borely — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 21.0 152 h 13 °C 36 mm
February 23.5 195 h 15 °C 71 mm
March 28.5 297 h 16 °C 109 mm
April 27.5 284 h 18 °C 14 mm
May 30.5 328 h 22 °C 35 mm
June 29.5 298 h 27 °C 6 mm
July 29.0 337 h 29 °C 11 mm
August 29.0 247 h 30 °C 15 mm
September 27.0 258 h 24 °C 98 mm
October 25.0 213 h 21 °C 68 mm
November 20.0 162 h 16 °C 25 mm
December 20.5 148 h 14 °C 107 mm

Photo gallery of Pointe Rouge - Escale Borely

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Technical details of Pointe Rouge - Escale Borely 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: Rideable NW: Rideable NNW: Not rideable N E S W

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

Rideable Not rideable
Local association recommendations

The Ridery: kitesurf/wingfoil shop, WhatsApp group «Kite à Marseille» for conditions — theridery.com. Massilia Kite School: kitesurf school — massiliakiteschool.com. Pacific Palissades: windsurf rental center Pointe Rouge. Glisse Attitude: windsurf/kitesurf/surf shop Marseille — glissattitude.com

Spot functioning

Access: from Aix/Nice via A8→A52→A501→A50 towards Avenue du Prado. From Lyon/Montpellier via A7→A55 and Prado S tunnel. TWO ZONES DEPENDING ON SEASON: - Low season (Oct-May): Bonneveine / Prado beach, north part. «La Bassine» protected on both sides by large rock armoring — a few kiters. - High season (June-Sept): Vieille Chapelle, central strip. Water entry on a narrow concrete slab between rock armoring — extreme. Mistral NW: dominant, beautiful waves. Gusty due to the terrain, requires mastery. S/SE: superb spot with strong S and beautiful waves in front of the breakwaters. Better S/SE conditions than at Épluchures. W/SW: works well. E: possible, cross-onshore.

Spot opening date · Required level
Spot opening date
Open all year round
Required level
Expert
Parking

Paid parking nearby — taken by storm on sunny days. Parking in Marseille = a challenge. Accessible by public transport: metro, bus, bicycle — one of the few spots in France accessible without a car.

Wind specificities

Mistral NW: dominant, beautiful waves. Gusty due to the coastal terrain — possible turbulence. S (strong south): SUPERB spot — beautiful waves in front of the breakwaters. THE conditions when it comes from the south. SE: cross-onshore, very good conditions (better than at Épluchures in SE). W/SW: works well. E: possible, cross-onshore. Pure N: can be turbulent/offshore depending on terrain.

Hazards

A DOUBLE-EDGED SPOT — unique for its location in the city center but dangerous. Rocks, rock armoring, breakwaters on each side — risk of drifting onto the rocks. Limited space to rig/launch — concrete slab only a few meters wide (off-season). Powerful shore break in strong wind — count the time between each wave for water entry. Gusty and turbulent Mistral due to coastal terrain — learn to tame it before venturing out. Crowds: jet-skis, surfers, swimmers, windsurfers in slalom. Very crowded on good wind days. Coastline bordered by rocks/cliffs — few spaces to drift in case of problems. KITE PROHIBITED IN SUMMER within 300 m of the beach (prefectural decree 118/2020). Schools access by boat.

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