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USA Mainland, Canada, Mexico & Caribbean · Magdalen Islands · Urban agglomeration of Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine · Havre-Aubert
Îles de la Madeleine (Magdalen Islands)
also known as Magdalen Islands, Les Iles de la Madeleine, Havre aux Basques Bay, Parc Fred Jomphe
Îles de la Madeleine (Magdalen Islands) has no other spot on this map within 40 km of it. straight-line distance
When it fills in
Weather-system days blow at any hour. The summer thermal over the Havre aux Basques lagoon is an afternoon affair: mornings are the quiet half, then the SW builds after lunch over smooth lagoon water and holds into the evening.
The wind
locals call it southwest summer winds / local thermal at Havre aux Basques
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
mixed
fills in: Weather-system days blow at any hour. The summer thermal over the Havre aux Basques lagoon is an afternoon affair: mornings are the quiet half, then the SW builds after lunch over smooth lagoon water and holds into the evening.
Typical strength
9-22
Also on record
9-22
The quiver, in words
No published local range, so this is indicative. For 75-85 kg a 9 m and an 11 or 12 m cover most of the summer lagoon season, and 15 knots of southwesterly is an 11 m day rather than a 7 m one.Keep a 7-8 m for the top of the 22-knot range and expect to want a foil or a big board on the light mornings.
Direction to shore
At the Havre aux Basques lagoon the dominant summer southwesterly arrives side-shore to side-onshore, and WSW is the direction the speed riders wait for. The rest of the archipelago faces every way: the northwest-facing ocean beaches such as West Dune work on a moderate to strong N-NW, which is onshore there and the reason they make waves, while Du Cap picks up long rollers after a strong NE.Take the direction for the area you pick off the official wind-sports map rather than from one archipelago-wide value.
Dominant direction
SW in summer; NW in colder seasons
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan84
- Feb77
- Mar69
- Apr72
- May69
- Jun, riders' month68
- Jul, riders' month44
- Aug, riders' month58
- Sep, riders' month57
- Oct69
- Nov88
- Dec85
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+)
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
- 84%Jan0°
- 77%Feb-1°
- 69%Mar0°
- 72%Apr3°
- 69%May7°
- 68%Jun12°
- 44%Jul19°
- 58%Aug21°
- 57%Sep17°
- 69%Oct13°
- 88%Nov6°
- 85%Dec3°
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 | 84% | 94% | 90% | 21 kt | WSW | 13:00 | -2.4°C | -0.1°C | 62 |
| Feb | 77% | 88% | 84% | 19.6 kt | W | 13:00 | -4°C | -1.2°C | 57 |
| Mar | 69% | 82% | 79% | 17.5 kt | N | 12:00 | -2.1°C | -0.4°C | 62 |
| Apr | 72% | 83% | 82% | 17.1 kt | WSW | 12:00 | 1.8°C | 2.5°C | 60 |
| May | 69% | 84% | 79% | 16.2 kt | NNE | 13:00 | 5.9°C | 6.8°C | 62 |
| Jun | 68% | 82% | 78% | 15.2 kt | SW | 13:00 | 11.6°C | 12.2°C | 60 |
| Jul | 44% | 63% | 52% | 12.6 kt | SSW | 11:00 | 17.3°C | 18.6°C | 62 |
| Aug | 58% | 81% | 76% | 14.2 kt | W | 14:00 | 19°C | 20.5°C | 62 |
| Sep | 57% | 75% | 65% | 14 kt | NW | 13:00 | 15.8°C | 17.4°C | 60 |
| Oct | 69% | 81% | 74% | 17.4 kt | W | 14:00 | 11.1°C | 13°C | 62 |
| Nov | 88% | 98% | 95% | 21.1 kt | N | 14:00 | 5.4°C | 6.2°C | 60 |
| Dec | 85% | 92% | 87% | 21.1 kt | WNW | 14:00 | 1.3°C | 2.5°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
mixed
Standing depth
Shallow, warm lagoon at Havre aux Basques / Parc Fred Jomphe, with the shallow ground on the left side and deeper water to the right where the windsurfers ride. Havre aux Bert, near La Martinique, is flat enough to walk kilometres in. The other island spots are ocean beaches and wave venues, and standing is not what they are for.
Tides
Pull the Canadian Hydrographic Service tide, current and water-level tables before any ocean spot; Sandy Hook is rarely tide-favourable. Inside the Havre aux Basques lagoon the tide sets the surface rather than the access: low water is flat, high water puts chop on it.
Temperature
18°C summer
Wetsuit
Bring a wetsuit. The water is around 18 C in mid-August and up to 20 C in the lagoons and bays, and it swings a lot day to day.
Currents
Some ocean spots have strong sea currents. Pointe-aux-Loups is very dangerous, with very strong currents; Sandy Hook has strong current running toward the point.
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
3 schools name this spot
On your own
Room to launch: Parking is restricted to the gravel surface; sand and vegetation areas are for gear preparation, and vehicles/RVs must not block the launch or park in dunes or on the road shoulder/cycling path.
Somewhere else
No neighbour on record
No other spot in the atlas sits within reach of this one.
Rescue
Launch
The main launch is the windsurf and kite zone at Parc Fred Jomphe on Havre aux Basques Bay. Kiters take the shallow side, the left and far end of the lagoon; windsurfers take the deeper right side.
Space
Parking is restricted to the gravel surface; sand and vegetation areas are for gear preparation, and vehicles/RVs must not block the launch or park in dunes or on the road shoulder/cycling path.
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- At Parc Fred Jomphe park on the gravel only; the sand and grass are for laying out gear, and RVs stay at the Route 199 parking.
- Take the left and far end of the Havre aux Basques lagoon; the deeper right side is the windsurfers' water.
- Pick your beach off the official wind-sports map, not the view: 12 areas, graded from beginner to expert-only.
- Pull the Canadian Hydrographic Service tide and current tables before any ocean beach, and skip Sandy Hook unless the tide is on your side.
- Keep 50 m from swimmers and beach entrances while rigging, and stay off the dunes and out of the plover zones.
- Book the CTMA ferry from Souris, Prince Edward Island, in advance; even foot passengers and cyclists need a reservation.
- Bring a 9 and an 11 or 12; the local answer to a 15-knot southwesterly is the 11, not the small kite.
- Ride the lagoon in the afternoon, when the southwesterly thermal is in and the water is at its smoothest.
- PLEIN VENT runs 15 June to 23 September 2026, daily 08:00 to 19:00, and sells a safety clinic at about 50 CAD plus tax if you want cover before riding on your own.
- Watch the north end of the lagoon: rocks come to the surface there.
Getting there
Airport
YGR - Iles-de-la-Madeleine Airport on Havre-aux-Maisons, with direct flights from Montreal and Quebec City.
Route
Fly in, or take the CTMA ferry from Souris, Prince Edward Island. Every ferry passenger needs a reservation, pedestrians and cyclists included.
Transfer
30 min
Cost level
high
Staying
Reserve accommodation and island transport before you travel. Hotels, B&Bs, tourist residences, campgrounds, youth hostels and vacation centres are all on the islands, and they fill in July and August.
No-wind days
Surf, SUP, kayaking, sailing, cycling, beaches, hiking/nature interpretation, birdwatching, golf, diving, marine wildlife watching, fishing excursions and local food/culture.
Photos
FAQ
When is the best time to kite the Magdalen Islands?
The wind-sports season runs strongest from June through September, with a maritime climate that keeps conditions mild into late September.
Is the Magdalen Islands suitable for beginners?
Havre aux Basques Bay at Parc Fred Jomphe is marked for beginners and intermediates with shallow, warm lagoon water, while other island beaches range up to expert-only spots.
What is the wind like in the Magdalen Islands?
Prevailing wind is southwest in summer and northwest in winter, with official climate data giving a typical range of about 9-22 knots.
Are there rules for kiting the Magdalen Islands?
Yes; riders must use only the 12 areas on the official Wind Sports Map and keep 50 m from bathers while rigging equipment.
What hazards should I know about?
Several ocean spots have strong or dangerous currents, notably Pointe-aux-Loups, and dune and bird-habitat areas must be avoided.
Last updated: August 2026