Beach break · Charente-Maritime · Beginner → Advanced
Forecast for Tuesday 1 September
Intermediate : Looking good — aim for 8h. — Best window: 8h–10h
Today's score by level (at the day's best, out of 100)
Central beach of Île de Ré, easy to access, fairly ordinary except when a big W swell arrives. Can produce quality waves on those rare occasions. Surf school and calm atmosphere.
Surfable all year. Autumn (Sep-Nov) is the best season: powerful swells, water still mild, less crowd.
Ideal for starting out or longboarding. Mellow waves, little current, surf school usually nearby.
Easy beach access, parking usually nearby. Ask locally about seasonal currents.
Wear an appropriate wetsuit. Scout the currents before you paddle out. Respect the locals and right-of-way. Check weather and tides.
La Couarde is rather accessible to beginners when the waves stay small and the wind is light. Still, check currents, tide and local guidelines before entering.
The ideal wind at La Couarde comes broadly from North: it's offshore, which helps shape and hold the waves. A strong onshore wind generally degrades conditions.
Around La Couarde, you can also check conditions at Trousse Chemise, Conche des Baleines, Le Lizay. Compare the scores, wind and swell direction before choosing where to surf.