Lanzarote (Canary Islands, Spain)
Sailing Locations in Lanzarote
The main windsurfing location in Lanzarote is Costa Teguise which is located on the eastern side of Lanzarote, 7 kms north west of the capital Arrecife, and only 10 to 15 minutes by car from the airport.
Costa Teguise
Costa Teguise is one of the most attractive tourist areas on Lanzarote thanks to its range of accommodation, its beaches, and plenty of activities which range from a large variety of water activities to a golf course and water park. This is definitely one of the preferred destinations for families visiting the island.
The resort is located on Cucharas Beach, a fairly small horseshoe shaped bay surrounded with plenty of hotels and a number of windsurfing centres.
Different to other windsurfing beaches in the Canary Islands like Tenerife or Fuerteventura, it is quite well protected from the wind so non-windsurfers can enjoy their holidays too. It is a large sandy bay that is 600 m long, and perfect for beginners on the protected inside, up to advanced sailors and experts further out where there is clean cross-shore wind and a reef break providing excellent wave to jump. The predominant wind is the North-East trade wind. There are a number of well stocked windsurfing centres providing windsurf tuition and rental.
There are other beaches in costa Teguise such as Bastian Beach which is ideal for families with small children since it is easily accessible and protected from the winds. There is also the fine white sandy beach of Jablillo.
The accommodation ranges from budget to luxury self-catering apartments, resorts and luxury 5* hotels. There is a large choice of restaurants and a nightlife that is vibrant but not 'rowdy'.
Famara
To the North of Costa Teguise on the North-West coast you will find Famara which is the kiteboarding mecca of Lanzarote. The wind is predominantly side on-shore from the NE to N and as this is the windward side of the island wave sailing is the main discipline. Base is the small farming town of Caleta de Famara where you can find a very limited number of accommodation options and restaurants/bars. Cost Teguise is only about half an hour's drive away so that may be a better base if you are looking for a bit of nightlife and more options for accommodation.
Best Sailing Season
As with the rest of the island of Lanzarote, the Costa Teguise weather is normally very good all year round. Cucharas Beach is generally windier than other spots in Lanzarote, which is one of the reasons it attracts windsurfers.
The dominant wind that blows 90% of the time is the north-east trade wind. The wind is the most consistent from April to September, with the wind blowing over 15 knots (force 4) over 80% of the time. The strongest wind is to be found in July and August.
The winds are less reliable between November and January, with February, March and October being in between. The sea temperatures range from 17° – 21 ° throughout the year, with the warmest temperatures between June and august. The sea temperatures are a little cooler than the other Canary Islands. Bring a wetsuit with long legs at least for the winter (2/3 mm) and a shorty for the summer. During the coldest days some may prefer a 3 mm long sleeve suit.
The windspeed statistics below show the percentage of days with wind above 15 knots (force 4 Bft) and average sea and air temperatures at Costa Teguise:
Month Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Wind 50 75 73 87 87 83 87 87 83 71 40 68 Air 20 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 26 24 22 20 Water 17 18 18 18 20 21 21 21 19 18 17 18 Types of Windsurfing
- Entry level windsurfing on the sheltered inside of the bay
- Small to medium chop freeride and slalom a little further out
- Bump and jump near the reef when windy
- Wave riding entry level on the outside over the reef
- Wave riding advanced when it's windy
Abilities
- Beginners
- Intermediates
- Advanced
- World Class
