With 2000 km of coastline and winds from every direction, Sardinia is a paradise for windsurfers and kitesurfers. Although the North is best known amongst windsurfers, the South can also offer fantastic wind and wave conditions. Over the past few years, a steady stream of windsurfing schools and centres have sprung up at well-loved windsurf spots. If you are going to lesser known windsurf areas be sure to take your own equipment as rental paraphernalia is sometimes not up to scratch.
Porto Pollo (also known as Porto Puddu) near Palau is renowned as one of the best windsurfing destinations in Europe and is without doubt the best in Sardinia. Porto Pollo’s three main pulls are its expansive white sandy beaches, turquoise water and consistent winds. Both the Chirocco wind from the Sahara and the Maestrale wind from the North-West blow in the area, thus ensuring almost constant perfect windsurfing conditions. This is not the right place for beginners or for those of you looking for some peace and quiet. However, those of you not planning on trying it out yourselves may nevertheless enjoy the sight of so many colourful sails gliding over glistening waters.
Chia, with its juniper bloated sand dunes and translucent blue waters in southern Sardinia, also attracts a fair share of windsurfers to its shores. The thermal Chiricco wind blowing up from the South ensures solid conditions for most of the summer. When the Tra Montana wind blows down from the North, both windsurfers and surfers can look forward to sets of waves rolling in onshore. However, the Tra Montana hardly blows in the summer and very rarely during the rest of the year. Chia is also a good starting point for trips to other parts of the area. Two favourite spots amongst the locals are Santa Maria di Pula (south of Cagliari) and Porto Pino (north-westerly, beyond Teulada).
When the Maestrale blows particularly hard from the North-West, the west coast around Oristano becomes a surprisingly good surf spot. The kilometre-long Poetto beach in Cagliari also gets a substantial amount of windsurfers when winds are high. Villasimius belongs to one of the best spots on the South-West coast and the Costa Rei also shouldn’t be underestimated if the wind is right.
Rental Equipment and Windsurfing Schools
Capo Testa (near Portobello)
Circolo Nautico
Loc. Capo Testa
Tel. +39-0789-755828
Chia (near Pula)
Surfsport Baia Chia
Also with dive centre on Baia Chia beach
Costa Rei
Centro Sport Nautici
Villagio Piscina Rei
Tel. +39-070-991345
San Teodoro
International Sailing and Windsurfing School
Am Strand La Cinta
Mobile +39-338-2099856
Villasimius
Delfin Club
Spiaggia Simius
Tel. +39-070-7202298
