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Witsand kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot

South Africa · Western Cape

Spot currently openIntermediate level -34.4 | 20.85

Overview

Witsand ("white sand" in Afrikaans) is a village at the Breede River mouth, the largest estuary in the Western Cape. The spot offers two options: ocean with waves and estuary with flat water. The river mouth is known as a prime southern right whale watching location (June-November). The village is quiet and authentic.

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Spot forecast for Witsand

Sunrise 05:48 · Sunset 18:54

Open-Meteo

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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.

6:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:00Tue 20Wed 21Thu 22Fri 23Sat 24 Now04:470.9 m11:271.5 m17:570.9 m23:471.5 m05:520.8 m12:181.7 m18:380.7 m00:371.6 m06:350.7 m12:551.9 m19:110.6 m01:151.8 m07:120.5 m13:282 m19:440.4 m01:511.9 m07:480.4 m14:012.2 m20:190.2 m
  • Tuesday 20 October Low tide · 0.9 m High tide · 1.5 m Low tide · 0.9 m High tide · 1.5 m
  • Wednesday 21 October Low tide · 0.8 m High tide · 1.7 m Low tide · 0.7 m
  • Thursday 22 October High tide · 1.6 m Low tide · 0.7 m High tide · 1.9 m Low tide · 0.6 m
  • Friday 23 October High tide · 1.8 m Low tide · 0.5 m High tide · 2 m Low tide · 0.4 m
  • Saturday 24 October High tide · 1.9 m Low tide · 0.4 m High tide · 2.2 m Low tide · 0.2 m

Witsand: 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

223h

in November · 19 rideable days

The season runs from September to April, peaking in November: 16 rideable days a month and 223 hours of usable wind, at 22 °C. The low point is August, at 2 days.

Rideable days per month

0 5 10 15 20 January: 15 rideable days J February: 15 rideable days F March: 18 rideable days M April: 15 rideable days A May: 7.5 rideable days M June: 4 rideable days J July: 2.5 rideable days J August: 2 rideable days2 d A September: 13 rideable days S October: 14.5 rideable days O November: 19 rideable days19 d N December: 15 rideable days D 0 5 10 15 20 January: 15 rideable days J February: 15 rideable days F March: 18 rideable days M April: 15 rideable days A May: 7.5 rideable days M June: 4 rideable days J July: 2.5 rideable days J August: 2 rideable days2 d A September: 13 rideable days S October: 14.5 rideable days O November: 19 rideable days19 d N December: 15 rideable days D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 52%13-20 knots · 45%21-30 knots · 4%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 52% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is July, at 16 °C. The wettest month is April, with 73 mm.

Monthly averages: Witsand
Monthly averages — Witsand — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 15.0 192 h 24 °C 30 mm
February 15.0 142 h 24 °C 20 mm
March 18.0 161 h 23 °C 44 mm
April 15.0 147 h 21 °C 73 mm
May 7.5 46 h 21 °C 17 mm
June 4.0 17 h 19 °C 52 mm
July 2.5 13 h 16 °C 36 mm
August 2.0 15 h 18 °C 16 mm
September 13.0 114 h 19 °C 31 mm
October 14.5 146 h 21 °C 38 mm
November 19.0 223 h 22 °C 19 mm
December 15.0 153 h 24 °C 15 mm

Photo gallery of Witsand

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Spot video

Technical details of Witsand spot

N: Not rideable NNE: Not rideable NE: Not rideable ENE: Not rideable E: Rideable ESE: Rideable SE: Rideable SSE: Not rideable S: Not rideable SSW: Not rideable SW: Not rideable WSW: Not rideable W: Not rideable WNW: Not rideable NW: Not rideable NNW: Not rideable N E S W

The spot works with winds from E, ESE, SE.

Rideable Not rideable
Spot functioning

Works in SE and E from October to March. Flat water option in estuary or waves on the ocean beach. Watch for powerful current in the river mouth. Tide strongly influences estuary current.

Spot opening date · Required level
Spot opening date
Open all year round
Required level
Intermediate
On the water

Estuary: flat water to small chop. Ocean: moderate to powerful waves. Water at 16-20°C in estuary, colder in ocean. 3/2 wetsuit.

Parking

Parking in Witsand village. Quiet and safe residential area.

Wind specificities

SE and E are side-onshore, 15-25 knots from October to March. The estuary channels the wind. ESE is the best direction. Wind is reliable in summer.

Hazards

Very powerful river mouth current — don't ride in the channel. Sharks (attracted to river mouth). Whales in season. Stingrays in estuary.

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Live

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Webcams near Witsand

Webcams provided by Windy.com

Nearby spots

All spots: Western Cape

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