de tao » 01/07/2015 11:09
Sardinia’s a class apart in the western Mediterranean: Caribbean water colours, white sandy beaches, eroded rock formations and the evergreen ‘macchia’ are spectacular natural phenomenon. Add excellent kite and windsurf conditions for an addictive combination – the Med’s ultimate legal high. Predominantly light winds reign during summer’s high pressures, but the 270km by 145km island goes off in spring, autumn and winter. It’s mainly NW Mistral that lights up the breaks, but low pressure driven Libecchio (SW) or Scirocco (SE) aren’t to be sniffed at either – especially down south. Regardless of season, a surf trip to Sardinia is always a journey into the cradle of Mediterranean life.
SOUTHERN SARDINIA
Capo Mannu
Without a doubt, Capo Mannu is among the Mediterranean’s best wave spots. In strong Mistral, waves of almost Hawaiian calibre await with wind from the right. You’ll find the best conditions here when the wind blows south-westerly then veers north-west. It’s a bit gusty and a tough place for jumping, but makes up for it in down-the-line riding. Be polite to the surfers! Experts only, it’s totally rocky. Sail out via the channel on the left.
Funtana Meiga
If Capo Mannu’s comparable to Ho’okipa, then Funtana’s a cross between Kanaha and Spreckelsville. The waves are a bit smaller (which can be handy on huge days), and the wind’s more consistent. Peachy jumping and down-the-line riding too, since Mistral blows clean cross-shore. But northerly wind also means fantastic cross-off conditions. Rocky seabed with sea urchins; it’s best to launch from the right end of the small beach.
Funtanamare
This beach is off the beaten track in one of the island’s most beautiful and ancient areas. This wide open bay gets waves on the first day of Mistral, but the beach-break gets challenging as winds increase. Cross-onshore wind and a sandy bottom make it popular with kiters yet it doesn’t get too busy, even in summer.
Porto Botte
Porto Botte might not boast such a spectacular landscape, but the Sant’Antioco peninsula enjoys a venturi effect bumping even a light Mistral up to 25 knots. It’s very safe with flat – partly shallow – water, cross-shore wind and a sandy seabed.
Porto Pino
At Porto Pino SE blows in much stronger than elsewhere and a Mistral builds mid-sized waves. This sandy bay is a real beauty with its crystal-clear turquoise water, it gets very busy in summer so use the kite zone – and take care if you decide to park on the sand.
Chia
A dream spot on the southern tip of the island with a wide, white sandy beach. Perfect for waveriding and jumping in port tack Scirocco, but also great when strong south-west veers westerly (2 to 3m waves with clean tubes and cross-off wind, but it’s gusty!) Chia also has a quieter side: Without swell and in low winds, you’ll find perfect freeride conditions here. But be careful not to break anything in Mistral – the next landfall’s Tunisia!
Cagliari
This city-beach (aka; ‘Il Poetto’ / ‘Le Torrette’) stretches for over 7km. An outstanding slalom spot, some of the best racers in Italy regularly train around the buoys here. Often and strongly fanned by Mistral, but all other wind directions are also nicely sailable in the bay. In Scirocco and south-westerly storms, the bay transforms into a wave spot with cross-on conditions, very good for jumping.
Geremeas
This sandy beach is on the way to Villasimius. People mainly launch here during Mistral, which blows almost onshore. In moderate winds, you’ll have about half a metre of chop – strong winds can produce a beach-break up to 2m-high, nice for jumping. The living’s easy here: No rocks, no current...
Villasimius
The whole area around Villasimius is stunning, with super-wide, white sandy beaches and Caribbean watercolours. In summer thermals and light west to south-westerly winds, it’s perfect for freeride and -style. Easterly storms churn up big waves – if the wind then veers south-west or westerly, Villasimius rates among the island’s best breaks with spectacular cross-off conditions.
Porto Pirastu
Around Capo Ferrato you’ll find lots of pristine nature – please make sure it stays that way. North-easterly winds bring fat swell and excellent cross-off conditions (very powerful waves and port tack wind).
Muravera
Lush green mountains provide an amazing backdrop, with pure ecology too. Muravera – more specifically ‘San Giovanni’ – is the first place to see waves in north-easterly wind yet stays a bit more subdued than elsewhere in the region. If it’s not too big, it’s also great for first-time forays into the waves
NORTHERN SARDINIA
San Teodoro-La Cinta
This beautiful large beach near the village of San Teodoro is best in Scirocco (south-easterly), which can pack a punch even in summer. This is often a freeride spot, but in strong cross-onshore Scirocco also makes for nice jumping. If there’s not much wind in Olbia but Cape Town-esque cloud-cover over the ‘Isola della Tavolara’, La Cinta could be worth checking out – there’s a good chance of 4.5m conditions.
Pittulongu
Easterly winds are best in the ‘Golfo di Olbia’. Pittulongu is a white, slowly shelving, sandy beach, completely decked out with windsurfing school, bars and restaurants. Nothing dangerous, even in Scirocco the waves don’t exceed 1m.
La Maddalena
Both ‘Baja Trinidad’ and ‘Nido d’Aquila’ are located on the western side of this beautiful island. They’re a good option for loners who find Porto Pollo too crowded. As everywhere in the Strait of Bonifacio, small sails are often the order of the day. The environs of crystal-clear water, white beaches and the wind-sculpted cliffs are unique. While you’re here, why not pop over the bridge to the sister island of ‘Caprera’? There’s not much room for cars, so try to grab (or offer) a lift from ‘Palau’.
Porto Pollo
Discovered by none other than Robby Naish in the late ’70s, this spot on the northern end of the ‘Costa Smeralda’ soon became one of Europe’s most popular freeride venues. Two large bays are divided by a narrow spit – onshore winds and chop on one side, mirror-flat water on the other ... and the spit doesn’t interfere with the wind either. The Strait of Bonifacio is an ideal wind-tunnel with amazing wind stats. All westerly and easterly winds get strengthened, and Porto Pollo offers a suitable launch for every direction. There’s another launch on the western shore of the bigger bay, accessible via a side-road off the SS133 – with a height limit though.
Rena Majore
Sardinia’s “North Shore” starts here! This is the first place waves develop and the last to hold onto any swell. However, it’s not sailable in a classic Mistral storm when the wind blows onshore and the waves close-out. Fantastic cross-off conditions if the wind backs easterly with a NW swell. Be careful of the current.
Cala Pischina
One of Sardinia’s best “North Shore” breaks; it can easily top mast-high here. Best in westerly wind; great for riding, less suited to jumping. Cliffs everywhere, except for a small beach on the right. No two ways about it, experts only! Be extra-careful at ‘Bomba Point’, the little cape on the right. The waves are even higher here, but break right onto the rocks; the tiniest error and your kit will end up in pieces.
Marina delle Rose
The beauty of this spot is its wild and unspoilt surroundings; if you visit, make sure it stays that way! Another break that receives waves early, though cross / cross-off south-westerly conditions are rare. Excellent for jumping or honing wave skills on small days. The wide bay is sandy, but the best waves break in the middle where there are a few rocky ridges. Normally you’ll have to park 800m above the spot: You can get a bit closer during off-season, but don’t drive onto the sand without a 4x4.
Vignola
A nice freeride location, especially in east-north-easterly winds. It’s also often flat in west or north-westerly, since Vignola only gets waves very late. That’s why it’s such a popular Mistral alternate, when other north coast venues get unsailable. Most of the time it’s just bump-&-jump here, though there’s often a pretty meaty shorebreak. There are a few rocks in the bay (remember where they are before launching) but otherwise the beach is wide and sandy. Next to the little village there’s also a campsite, right by the launch.
Isola Rossa
Just before the harbour, follow signs to the beach (‘Spiaggia’) to find this bay and nice sandy beach nestled into the cliffs. Good windsurfing is only to be had in rare north-easterlies, but there can be excellent surfing conditions in the swell that develops after a few days of Mistral (north-westerly) or Ponente (westerly).
La Ciaccia
Excellent spot for jumping and waveriding. Works best in a westerly, which frequently blows here providing cross-shore conditions. The waves build up over a rocky ledge, which lies flat under the water close to shore (there’s a channel to the right). You’ll find a sandy beach to the east, but watch the rocks and shorebreak at one of the Sardinian north coast’s most beautiful breaks.
Maritza
Outstanding freeride / -style spot in easterlies or south-westerlies, which blow a bit stronger here than in other areas. Perfect flat water for freestyle close inshore, but watch out for a few rocks and sea urchins. With NW swell and north-easterly winds you can catch great cross / cross-off wave conditions here; but sadly, this combination is rare. Small gravel beach and not much space for parking.
Marina di Sorso
You can pick an optimum launch for the wind direction on this long sandy beach stretching from Marina di Sorso to Platamona. When the wind’s strong enough or swell’s still running, you’ll encounter a considerable shorebreak. In light winds you can also enjoy relaxed freeride sessions here. The wide beach is well suited to kiting.
La Ciaccia
Excellent jumping in Mistral, also good for frontside waveriding in westerly wind (though it’s better in Ciaccia). Platamona offers an advantage for wave newcomers – the waves don’t get quite as big and they break over sand. There is a shorebreak though. In less wind, without swell, it’s also a great freeride spot.
Stintino-La Pelosa
A spectacular bay with a white sandy beach, Caribbean watercolours and a sandbar in the middle of the bay that’s perfect for jumping in easterlies. In summer such a beauty is bound to be a popular swimming beach.
Porto Ferro
With a fantastic backdrop of turquoise water and reddish sand, Ferro sees big waves in westerly winds although onshore conditions don’t make for a great break. Surfers seem to enjoy it though. It’s great in easterly winds with a kite or a sail – open-sea cruising with breathtaking scenery, complete with flying fish! But you’d better take a big board; the offshore wind’s amazingly consistent, but can suddenly tail off.
Mugoni-La Stalla
This enclosed flat-water bay almost feels like a lake. A north-westerly summer thermal accelerates over land to beyond 20 (sometimes gusty) knots. You can hit the water all year-round in southerly low-pressure winds. The ambiance of sandy beach and pine-forest is awesome, but it can get crowded in summertime.
Alghero
The bay in front of Alghero definitely has two faces. During Mistral (or moderate west to southerly winds) it provides nice freeride conditions, protected by the craggy ‘Capo Caccia’. Just look out for rocks near the small island of ‘Maddalenedda’. In south-south-westerly storms, Neptune turns up the heat. Then you’ll be able to ride one of Sardinia’s biggest waves in perfect cross-off conditions 800m offshore on a reef to the right of Maddalenedda. Incredibly good, but annoyingly rare.