Overview

Pelican Island is a flat-water kite spot in Richards Bay, Africa's largest deep-water port. This large sheltered bay offers ideal conditions for beginners with flat, warm water (22-26°C). The bay is protected from ocean swell. This is Richards Bay's main kite spot.

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Spot forecast for Pelican Island

Sunrise 05:09 · Sunset 18:03

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Next tides

High tide Tue 20 · 12:27 · 1.4 m
Low tide Tue 20 · 18:39 · 1 m
High tide Wed 21 · 00:36 · 1.4 m
Low tide Wed 21 · 06:39 · 0.8 m

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Pelican Island: 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

197h

in September · 27.5 rideable days

The season runs from August to March, peaking in September: 26 rideable days a month and 197 hours of usable wind, at 28 °C. The low point is June, at 16.5 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 88%13-20 knots · 12%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 88% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is July, at 23 °C. The wettest month is January, with 165 mm.

Monthly averages: Pelican Island

Monthly averages — Pelican Island — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	27.5	208 h	29 °C	165 mm
February	24.5	197 h	30 °C	127 mm
March	25.0	222 h	29 °C	154 mm
April	19.5	150 h	26 °C	141 mm
May	22.0	181 h	26 °C	15 mm
June	16.5	115 h	24 °C	36 mm
July	21.5	140 h	23 °C	23 mm
August	27.0	211 h	26 °C	30 mm
September	27.5	197 h	25 °C	128 mm
October	25.5	220 h	26 °C	76 mm
November	27.0	247 h	27 °C	83 mm
December	26.5	230 h	29 °C	117 mm

Photo gallery of Pelican Island

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Technical details of Pelican Island spot

The spot works with winds from NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSW, SW, WSW.

Rideable Not rideable

Spot functioning

The spot works in NE to SE and SW winds. The bay offers flat water protected from swell. Tide influences water level. Watch for restricted port zones. Large sailing area.

Spot opening date · Required level

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

On the water

Flat, warm water (22-26°C). Sandy to muddy bottom. No waves. Tidal currents in the bay. Water sometimes murky. Large sailing surface.

Parking

Access from Richards Bay. Parking near Pelican Island. Port area, check authorised access. Richards Bay urban infrastructure nearby.

Wind specificities

The bay is well exposed to NE (summer trade wind) and SW winds. The large water surface allows wind to build. NE blows side-onshore, SW also enters the bay. Rideable year-round, best October to April.

Hazards

Shipping traffic (commercial port). Restricted port zones. Tidal currents. Bull sharks present in the bay. Hippos occasionally reported. Crocodiles possible. Murky water.

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Nearby spots

All spots: KwaZulu-Natal

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Pelican Island kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot