Capo d'Orlando has no other spot on this map within 40 km of it. straight-line distance
When it fills in
No onset time is published for this spot.
The wind
locals call it Levante, Scirocco, Grecale, Ponente, Maestrale
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
mixed
Typical strength
10-20 knots for the easterly freeride and slalom at Spiaggia Nettuno; 10-30 knots on the Ponente and Maestrale winter wave days. Grecale is put at 6-14 m/s and Scirocco at 4-13 m/s.
Thermal or synoptic
both
The quiver, in words
Indicative for a 75-85 kg rider, worked from the recorded wind bands rather than from a local size log. The 10-20 knot easterly at Spiaggia Nettuno is a 12 m day at the bottom of the range and a 9 m day at the top.Ponente and Maestrale wave days run 10-30 knots: 10-12 m when it is barely in, 8-9 m around 20 knots, 7 m at 25, 5-6 m when it is properly on. Riders on a wave board usually take a size below the flat-water equivalent.
Direction to shore
Grecale comes off the land, so a Grecale day is an offshore day whatever the sand looks like. Easterlies work at Spiaggia Nettuno. The west side and the lighthouse take Ponente and Maestrale, and the wave there is ridden port tack. The shore angle changes between the two launches.
Dominant direction
E, SE, NE, W, NW, N
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan31
- Feb21
- Mar27
- Apr32
- May15
- Jun8
- Jul8
- Aug11
- Sep18
- Oct8
- Nov40
- Dec34
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+)
- 31%Jan17°
- 21%Feb15°
- 27%Mar16°
- 32%Apr17°
- 15%May20°
- 8%Jun25°
- 8%Jul28°
- 11%Aug29°
- 18%Sep27°
- 8%Oct24°
- 40%Nov22°
- 34%Dec18°
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 | 31% | 47% | 42% | 11.9 kt | WSW | 14:00 | 11.9°C | 16.5°C | 62 |
| Feb | 21% | 35% | 28% | 10 kt | W | 13:00 | 12°C | 15.4°C | 57 |
| Mar | 27% | 35% | 34% | 11.2 kt | W | 13:00 | 13.4°C | 15.8°C | 62 |
| Apr | 32% | 43% | 43% | 10.9 kt | W | 13:00 | 15.7°C | 17.2°C | 60 |
| May | 15% | 29% | 23% | 9.2 kt | W | 13:00 | 19.6°C | 20°C | 62 |
| Jun | 8% | 12% | 12% | 7.3 kt | ENE | 13:00 | 24.4°C | 24.6°C | 60 |
| Jul | 8% | 13% | 11% | 7.5 kt | NE | 14:00 | 27.9°C | 28.3°C | 62 |
| Aug | 11% | 16% | 11% | 8 kt | NNE | 14:00 | 27°C | 28.8°C | 62 |
| Sep | 18% | 25% | 20% | 9.7 kt | ENE | 13:00 | 24.5°C | 26.7°C | 60 |
| Oct | 8% | 19% | 16% | 7.9 kt | NE | 13:00 | 21.7°C | 24.3°C | 62 |
| Nov | 40% | 53% | 52% | 12.7 kt | W | 13:00 | 17.3°C | 21.6°C | 60 |
| Dec | 34% | 47% | 44% | 11.5 kt | W | 13:00 | 14.3°C | 18.4°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
Standing depth
false
Tides
Tide independent on the Capo d'Orlando West side.
Temperature
25.8°C summer · 15.7°C winter
Wetsuit
Shorts in summer, shorty in spring/fall, full wetsuit in winter.
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
Somewhere else
No neighbour on record
No other spot in the atlas sits within reach of this one.
Rescue
VHF channel 16
Launch
The freeride and slalom launch is Spiaggia Nettuno, near the football stadium. Wave sessions are near the lighthouse and on the west side of the cape.
Space
medium
Rider tips
- Rig at Spiaggia Nettuno by the football stadium for the easterly freeride and slalom.
- Treat Grecale as offshore and ride it only with local knowledge or support on the water.
- Walk the lighthouse and west-side launch before rigging: rocks, concrete and the road are all close in.
- Expect to work around bathers in June, July and August.
- Pack shorts for summer, a shorty for spring and autumn, and a full suit if you come for the winter waves.
- Save 1530 before you drive down. It is the free Coast Guard sea-emergency line and there is nothing else here.
Getting there
Airport
Catania Fontanarossa (CTA) is the practical airport. Reggio Calabria (REG) is slightly nearer by distance but adds the Strait crossing.
Route
Drive the A20 along the north coast, then down to the west side or the Spiaggia Nettuno area. There is rail from Catania airport as well.
Transfer
204 min
Cost level
medium
Staying
700+ places to stay around Capo d'Orlando, none of them checked for kite storage or distance to the launch.
No-wind days
Aeolian Islands views and boat trips · Nebrodi mountains · Milazzo day trip
Photos
FAQ
What is the wind like?
Summer easterly Levante and Scirocco bring 10-20 knot freeride and slalom conditions at Spiaggia Nettuno, while winter Ponente or Maestrale can reach 10-30 knots for waves.
Is Capo d'Orlando suitable for beginners?
Yes, the large sandy beach is reported good for practising starts, though offshore Grecale and winter wave days need more experience.
Are there kite schools nearby?
Messina KiteSurf and Kite School Salinelle are listed as local schools.
What hazards should riders know about?
Grecale blows offshore and can be gusty, and winter waves near the lighthouse can reach about 2.5 m, alongside rocks and concrete in places.
Last updated: August 2026