Nearby Grande Plage de La Ciotat 6 km · Brutal Beach 12 km · Prado Beaches 28 km · L'Almanarre 37 km · Le Jaï 50 km · straight-line distance
When it fills in
Synoptic wind: neither the Mistral nor the Marin arrives at a set hour, and both can hold for a day or more once they are in. There is no summer sea breeze to plan around here, because the bay is closed to kites all summer.
The wind
locals call it Mistral; Marin
Direction
Character
synoptic
fills in: Synoptic wind: neither the Mistral nor the Marin arrives at a set hour, and both can hold for a day or more once they are in. There is no summer sea breeze to plan around here, because the bay is closed to kites all summer.
Typical strength
22.5 kt average, unconfirmed; no typical range recorded.
Direction to shore
S to SE is side-onshore to onshore; SW is side-shore/side-on; NW Mistral is more onshore and technical.
Dominant direction
SW round to SE suits the east-west beach; south and southeast are the best directions. NW Mistral works but is more technical.
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan, riders' month51
- Feb, riders' month59
- Mar, riders' month62
- Apr62
- May38
- Jun53
- Jul55
- Aug42
- Sep62
- Oct, riders' month49
- Nov, riders' month64
- Dec, riders' month57
per cent of the month at force 4 or more
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec.
- 12Jan14°
- 12Feb14°
- 14Mar14°
- 14Apr15°
- 11May18°
- 12Jun22°
- 12Jul23°
- 11Aug24°
- 13Sep23°
- 12Oct21°
- 13Nov17°
- 13Dec15°
avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Force 4+ | Knots | From | Air | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51% | 12.1 kt | NW | 9.1°C | 14.4°C |
| Feb | 59% | 12.4 kt | NW | 10.3°C | 13.8°C |
| Mar | 62% | 14 kt | ESE | 12.1°C | 14.2°C |
| Apr | 62% | 13.9 kt | NW | 14.3°C | 14.9°C |
| May | 38% | 10.6 kt | WNW | 18.6°C | 18°C |
| Jun | 53% | 11.8 kt | NW | 23.1°C | 21.9°C |
| Jul | 55% | 12.3 kt | WNW | 26.4°C | 23.4°C |
| Aug | 42% | 11.3 kt | WNW | 26°C | 24.4°C |
| Sep | 62% | 12.9 kt | NW | 21.6°C | 22.7°C |
| Oct | 49% | 11.8 kt | ESE | 19.1°C | 20.5°C |
| Nov | 64% | 13 kt | NW | 13.6°C | 17.1°C |
| Dec | 57% | 12.9 kt | NW | 10.5°C | 15.1°C |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from weather reanalysis on a 10–25 km grid (2022-2024), not a ground station: reliable for trade and synoptic winds, understates thermal sea breezes and valley winds. 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.
ERA5 reanalysis grid point (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical weather API — ECMWF ERA5/ERA5-Land reanalysis, not a ground station · 2022-2024
The water
Type
sea
Standing depth
Reportedly standable at both high and low tide, but this is an open Mediterranean bay, not a protected lagoon.
Tides
Rideable at high and low tide; no tide dependency identified.
Temperature
22.3°C summer · 14.4°C winter
Wetsuit
Summer: shorty or light neoprene top depending on wind. Winter: full wetsuit; winter lows run around 12-13 C.
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
6 schools name this spot
On your own
Room to launch: medium
Somewhere else
Grande Plage de La Ciotat, 6 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Rescue
Launch
Beach departures are from the southern end of Plage des Lecques, at the corner of the Hôtel Tapis de Sable by parking plage 3; the launch is reportedly close to the Dégouttant stream mouth.
Space
medium
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Rig at the southern end of Plage des Lecques, at the Hôtel Tapis de Sable corner by parking plage 3; that is the only permitted beach departure.
- Check the posted opening dates before you drive: 1 January to 14 March 2026, then 16 October 2026 to 14 March 2027, and nothing in between.
- Come on a south or southeast day; that is the clean setup here.
- Do not pick a NW Mistral day to learn the spot; it comes in more onshore and the shore handling is the hard part.
- Stay outside the 300 m band once you are on the water; the beach launch corner is the only sanctioned crossing point.
- The 16 October to 14 March window comes back every year, so the dates are worth remembering rather than looking up each season.
- Ride with someone. The lifeguard posts shut long before the kite season opens, and 196 is the only number you have.
Getting there
Airport
Toulon-Hyères Airport is 53 km from Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer; Marseille Provence is 65 km.
Route
Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer is close to the A50 motorway and has rail access; for the kite launch, continue to Les Lecques beach and parking plage 3 at the southern end.
Transfer
About 45-60 minutes by car from Toulon-Hyères or Marseille Provence depending on traffic; no official timetable gives the airport-to-beach time.
Cost level
medium
Staying
Hotels, holiday apartments and beach accommodation line Les Lecques and Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer; the launch reference point is near the Hôtel Tapis de Sable.
No-wind days
Les Lecques beach promenade, sailing and other water sports in the bay, Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer town, Bandol vineyards, La Ciotat and the Calanques area.
Photos
FAQ
When is the best time?
The spot is open from 16 October to 14 March, matching the rule that use is restricted to outside the summer bathing season.
Is it suitable for beginners?
No, the spot is rated intermediate because of the seasonal restriction, marked nearshore area and choppy open water.
What is the wind like?
South to southeast gives the best powered freeride and wave conditions, while northwest Mistral also works but is more technical.
Are there rules?
As of 2026, the site is open from 1 January to 14 March and 16 October to 14 March 2027, with departures required from the southern end of Plage des Lecques.
Last updated: August 2026