Nearby Andora 12 km · Borgo Prino 26 km · Arma di Taggia 38 km · straight-line distance
When it fills in
On the fair-weather days that make up most of the summer, the working wind is a west to south-west thermal that comes in around the middle of the day and holds until after sunset, in the 12-18 kt band typical of this stretch of the Riviera di Ponente. Synoptic days - Libeccio, Grecale, Levante, Tramontana - run to their own timetable and can blow at any hour. Regional pattern, not an Albenga measurement.
The wind
locals call it Libeccio, Scirocco, Tramontana, Grecale, Levante, Ostro
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
mixed
fills in: On the fair-weather days that make up most of the summer, the working wind is a west to south-west thermal that comes in around the middle of the day and holds until after sunset, in the 12-18 kt band typical of this stretch of the Riviera di Ponente. Synoptic days - Libeccio, Grecale, Levante, Tramontana - run to their own timetable and can blow at any hour. Regional pattern, not an Albenga measurement.
Typical strength
10-20 kt is the usual working range, with the spot still rideable through 20-40 kt on synoptic days and peaks of about 40 kt described locally. The summer thermal sits in the 12-18 kt band.
Thermal or synoptic
thermal and synoptic
The quiver, in words
No published local quiver. The spot is described as working from 10-20 kt and holding through 20-40 kt, which for a 75-85 kg rider puts you on 11-12 m at the bottom of the range, 9 m around 18-20 kt, 7 m from the mid-20s and 5-6 m on a full Libeccio or Tramontana day. Indicative from the quoted wind range, not from local rider experience.
Direction to shore
At the south-facing river-mouth beach, SW and SE are side-shore; NE can be side-on on the east-facing town coast; Tramontana/N can be side to side-off and gusty.
Dominant direction
SW to SE work side-shore on the south-facing river-mouth beach; N and NE, W and SW also come up in local descriptions of the coast.
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan26
- Feb35
- Mar35
- Apr38
- May35
- Jun22
- Jul11
- Aug15
- Sep40
- Oct26
- Nov33
- Dec31
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+)
- 26%Jan15°
- 35%Feb14°
- 35%Mar14°
- 38%Apr16°
- 35%May19°
- 22%Jun23°
- 11%Jul27°
- 15%Aug28°
- 40%Sep24°
- 26%Oct21°
- 33%Nov18°
- 31%Dec16°
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+) · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Windy days | Force 4+ | 12 kn or more | Knots | From | Peaks at | Air | Water | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26% | 50% | 40% | 12.2 kt | SSW | 15:00 | 9.2°C | 14.5°C | 62 |
| Feb | 35% | 49% | 40% | 13.3 kt | SSW | 15:00 | 10.1°C | 13.9°C | 57 |
| Mar | 35% | 58% | 52% | 13.6 kt | SSW | 15:00 | 11.6°C | 14.3°C | 62 |
| Apr | 38% | 57% | 55% | 13.2 kt | SSW | 16:00 | 14.2°C | 15.9°C | 60 |
| May | 35% | 55% | 50% | 12.7 kt | SSW | 15:00 | 18.4°C | 18.9°C | 62 |
| Jun | 22% | 53% | 33% | 11.7 kt | SSW | 14:00 | 22.8°C | 23°C | 60 |
| Jul | 11% | 37% | 35% | 10.3 kt | SSW | 15:00 | 26.3°C | 26.5°C | 62 |
| Aug | 15% | 39% | 29% | 10.8 kt | SSW | 16:00 | 26.5°C | 27.5°C | 62 |
| Sep | 40% | 60% | 58% | 13.8 kt | SSW | 15:00 | 21.8°C | 24.1°C | 60 |
| Oct | 26% | 50% | 40% | 12.1 kt | SSW | 14:00 | 18.7°C | 21.1°C | 62 |
| Nov | 33% | 43% | 40% | 12.8 kt | SSW | 14:00 | 12.8°C | 18.2°C | 60 |
| Dec | 31% | 48% | 44% | 12 kt | NW | 16:00 | 9.6°C | 15.7°C | 62 |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from the operational forecast archive at 1.5–7 km (2023-2024), daylight hours only, not a ground station: it resolves thermal, lake and valley winds far better than coarse reanalysis but still tends to understate a strong local thermal. A windy day has at least three consecutive daylight hours at 12 knots or more. The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
High-resolution weather model (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical forecast archive — best-match operational model (ICON-D2 / AROME / ICON-EU / GFS by region), not a ground station · 2023-2024
The water
Type
sea and river mouth
Standing depth
Standing depth at both high and low tide, with shallow flat water inside and immediately beside the river mouth and chop or waves once you are outside it. No measured depth profile was found, and the bottom is sand mixed with gravel, so a river-mouth bar shifts with the Centa's flow.
Tides
Both high- and low-tide navigation are described as possible. No major tide dependency was found.
Temperature
24°C summer · 14.6°C winter
Wetsuit
Summer: shorty or no full suit depending on wind chill; winter: full wetsuit. Published Albenga sea-temperature summaries put summer average around 24 C and winter around 14-15 C.
Currents
Currents can be stronger at the Centa river mouth, especially during significant river flow.
Your level
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
2 schools name this spot
On your own
Room to launch: medium free beach at the river mouth; constrained by summer beach use
Somewhere else
Andora, 12 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Rescue
Launch
Kites generally launch in summer from the free beach at the Centa river mouth, while windsurf can also use beaches to the north outside peak beach-establishment occupation. Parking is available near Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo and Lungocenta Croce Bianca.
Space
medium free beach at the river mouth; constrained by summer beach use
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Launch from the Centa river-mouth free beach in summer; the other beaches are taken by establishments and no alternative legal launch is confirmed.
- Do not read flat water as an easy day in Tramontana: it is gusty and side-off.
- In Libeccio, look at the shore break before you launch and pick your exit first.
- Wear water shoes; the beach and the bottom are sand mixed with gravel and pebbles.
- Park near Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo or Lungocenta Croce Bianca.
- When the wind angle at Albenga is marginal, drive to Andora or Imperia instead.
- A 9 and a 12 cover the ordinary days; add a 7 if Libeccio is in the forecast.
- The summer thermal is a lunchtime-onwards wind. Rig early only when a synoptic front is due.
- There is no kite rescue here. Save 1530 for the coast guard and 112, and remember that lifeguard cover on the free beach only runs inside the official bathing season.
Getting there
Airport
Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA) is a practical airport; Nice Cote d'Azur (NCE) is another option from the west.
Route
Albenga is on the Genoa-Ventimiglia railway and the A10 motorway, and the spot is reachable from the Albenga motorway exit or the SS1 Aurelia. A car helps with gear and with checking the Andora or Imperia alternatives.
Transfer
About 60-85 minutes by train from Genoa and its airport to Albenga; Nice to Albenga is about 2 hours by train.
Cost level
medium; higher in peak Ligurian beach season
Staying
Albenga has seafront hotels, B&Bs and apartments near the beach and historic center; nearby Alassio/Andora add more resort options.
No-wind days
Albenga medieval historic center · Isola Gallinara boat trips · Alassio · Centa riverside and seafront walks · Finale Ligure outdoor activities · Local food markets and Ligurian cuisine
Photos
FAQ
Is it suitable for beginners?
No, intermediate is the minimum level shown, with advanced riders getting the most from stronger Libeccio or Tramontana days.
What is the wind like?
SW and SE wind runs side-shore at the river-mouth beach, with Grecale and Levante rated cleaner and Tramontana often gusty and turbulent from the inland mountains.
What are the main hazards?
Currents can be stronger at the Centa river mouth, shore break appears with Libeccio, and Tramontana can push riders offshore.
Are there kite schools or rental?
SurfLiguria and Surfing Park Kite Andora are listed as nearby schools.
Are there rules or restrictions?
A 2026 local maritime ordinance regulates landing, transit and departure of surf, windsurf and kitesurf from free beaches during the bathing season, though no exact Centa launch authorization was confirmed.
Last updated: August 2026