Pozo Beach Windsurfing
Pozo is one of the world’s most famous high wind locations, primarily due to its consistent high winds that blow over 20 knots (force 5) 200 days of the year. It is primarily a place best for dedicated windsurfers, as Pozo itself is quite small.
Pozo village offers a good infrastructure for windsurfers, with a few gear shops with rental options, apartments for rent, gear storage, restaurants and bars, and two little super markets.
Quite a bit of money has gone into developing the windsurfing facilities at Pozo more recently. This includes an area to support the annual PWA World Cup windsurfing event, including a new grandstand, parking areas, equipment cleaning basins and outside lighting.
However, there isn’t a great deal to do for non-windsurfers! As there is no ATM, a bus or hire car is required to find such amenities a few kms away.
For those that want to stay in the busier resorts to the south close to Bahia Feliz, both the Bjorn Dunkerbeck Centre and Fanatic Boarder Centre, which are located at Bahia Feliz Bay 12kms away, provide day trips to Pozo with equipment to use, subject to demand. This way windsurfers can sail Pozo by day but also enjoy the holiday resort lifestyle offered further south by night, as well as have access to lots of other activities.
Wind
Pozo is fortunate to receive trade winds throughout the year. The island is blessed with an acceleration effect as the winds squeeze around the outer perimeter of the island, due to the almost circular geography of the island and its mountains with a height of 2000 meters. This has the effect of often accelerating and even doubling the wind strength in Pozo. This phenomenon, which is also called a “crash barrier effect”, can cause wind speeds of around 30 to 40 knots in summer in Pozo, but due to local geographical conditions, far less in Bahia Feliz area 12km further south west along the coast.
The high season is during the summer months (June till September) with wind 80% – 90% over force 5. Pozo and the nearby spots work best during the summer, because the trades are blowing from a stable north eastern direction. The trades can be disturbed sometimes when hot Sahara air arrives and the wind can stop completely. During the summer months it’s hard to get any wind further south than Ketchup (Castillo de Romeral). In the off season (winter) at Pozo the wind is quite good with a percentage of 40 – 60% above 15 knots (force 4).
Waves
The best waves occur during the winter months with regular north east trade winds or north winds. The waves can get big, and are good for jumping and backside wave riding, as well as frontside for the pros!
The beach is rocky, and it is best to keep to the left when unfamiliar with the conditions, and be careful at low tide. There is a rocky area called the bunker where it is difficult to make it in and out, especially when the tide is up and there is a big shore break.
However, Pozo is not always wavy. There are many days with small waves and bump and jump conditions and even some flat water days.
During the summer months it is rare to use sails bigger than 4.7m.
Best Suited To
- Advanced bump and jump sailors
- Expert wavelsailors and Pros
Hazards
- It can get very windy.
- Rocks at low tide
- Big shore break at high tide
- Stony launch area
Pozo Beach Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing is not allowed at Pozo Beach.
