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france_north_n_northwest_shores

North and Northwest Shorelines (France)

(Bretagne, Haut-de-France, Loire-Atlantique, Normandie, Nouvelle-Aquitane)

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Amour, mer et surf ski

Main France Page


Atlantic, English Channel, North Sea Shorelines


Bretagne (Brittany)

Downwinders (Sous le vent)/Paddles

  • Brest (get local knowledge about the port and naval base traffic to watch for) Rade de Brest is the Bay that the Port of Brest faces
    • Le Conquet - Brest approx. 25 km
    • Le Fret - Landévennec 20 km Downwindfun
    • Freight Port of Brest - Landévennec 18 km
      • Best wind direction: West
      • Season: All year round with at least 15 knots of wind
    • Ile Longue - Tinduff approx 10 km video (started upwind before turning onto this course for downwind)
    • Port de l'Auberlac'h
    • Port de Porzmeur (Plougastel Daoulas)
      • Port de Porzmeur - Ile de Tibidy 16.5 km video, Downwindfun
      • Port de Porzmeur - Le Passage 10 km Downwindfun
      • Port de Porzmeur - la bouée du Renard - Moulin Blanc 15 km (paddle west to buoy then turn east to get more downwind) video
    • Port de Tinduff - Brest approx.15 km
    • Moulin Blanc
      • Île Ronde - Moulin Blanc 8-9 km video
      • Rade de Brest Run (Brest Bay Maison Blanche - Moulin Blanc) 10 km, Downwindfunvideo, video2
      • Radiliko Run - Roscanvel - Moulin Blanc 11 km “The further you go into the middle of the channel, the more ‘engaged’ the paddling is! If you are in the mood for something calmer you can keep to the channel’s side, and you will still be able to connect to the bumps.” (crosses Brest Bay) Downwindable.com, Helen Trehoret Description
    • Trez Hir - Moulin Blanc 23 km Downwindfun
  • Concarneau - downwind video Valentin Henot (no sound after 4:05)
  • Guisseny
  • Kerfanny Beach (Plage de Kerfanny) - Plage de Kerrou (Le Roux's Downwind) 12.4 km Downwindable.com
  • La Rance River
  • Ploudalmézeau - various windy beaches

Saturday afternoon at the Seashore - Ploudalmézeau


  • Plougurneau
  • Quiberon - site of 2019 Surfski World Championships
    • Port-Louis - Plage Chateau Rouge ~23 km
    • Penthievre - Locmariaquer ~15 km
    • Quiberon - Kerhilio ~21 km

Coaches/Clubs/Lessons

Dealers/Equipment

  • BeKayak Brest, Surfskis - Nordic Kayak, Nelo & accessories, Nalu OC
  • Barrachou Paddle 4 Rue de Lesneven, 29880 Guissény
  • Idoine Kayak - Epic, Vajda Surfskis, Rue du Blavet, 56650 Inzinzac Lochrist

Haut-de-France (Heights of France)

Downwinders

  • Bray-Dunes, France - Nieuwpoort, Belgium 16+ km
  • ….

Bray-Dunes - Nieuwpoort (This video shows a skilled sea kayaker paddling a sea kayak with a hull shape similar to surfskis - built better for downwind surfing. The conditions and shore break are not for beginner surfskiers, but a skilled surfskier with good preparation and safety support would love such a downwinder)



Resources


Loire-Atlantique

Clubs/Groups

Dealers/Equipment


Normandie (Normandy)

Downwinders

  • Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
    • Le Perrey - Le Becquet approx. 7-8 km
      • (equivalent) Plage de Collignon - Port de Fermanville video
    • Querqueville - l'Anse du Brick approx. 14.5 km video
    • Plage d'Urville - Plage de Collignon ~12-13 km (ship traffic from harbor?) video
  • See also Jersey Channel Islands Surfski. While not part of France they are quite close to the Cotentin Peninsula and share many of the favorable characteristics for downwinders, surf, and tide races.

Tidal Races

About Safety

  • Raz Blanchard (Alderney Race)

Dealers/Equipment

Resources


Nouvelle-Aquitane (New Aquitaine)

Resources

Downwinders

  • Anglet
  • Bay of Txngudi (Chingoudy)
    • Hondarribia (Spain) or Hendaye- Fort de Socoa 10 km video
    • Hondarribia (Spain) or Hendaye - Géthary 16 km video


Surf


Dealers


Conditions


Races


Clubs