The Harbour Wall, El Medano (Tenerife)
The Harbour Wall
The open ocean is the most dangerous area to sail in. There are two key reasons for this. It is very hard to spot anybody in trouble, due to the distance away from the beach and the sizeable swell that can be present. The second reason is that the current in the open ocean does not flow into the bay, but towards the right and past Montana Roja. Right next to the mountain the water can accelerate to between 4 and 6 knots. This means that any sailor who is in trouble or can’t sail upwind effectively will get carried away. The only thing the sailor can do is to sail perpendicular to the current and clamber up whatever rocky shoreline presents itself on the other side of Montana Roja.
The Harbour Wall is a short upwind sail away from the sandy launch beach at South Bay. This is the windiest part of the bay, and there is nearly always a decent wave to ride. It is accessed by launching at the sandy beach at South Bay, then sailing upwind and putting in a few tacks inside the shelter of the bay before arriving to the outside of the harbour wall.
The north-east trade wind blows cross-onshore from the left of the harbour wall, and the waves break onto the reef of the wall’s outer edge.
In the area of the harbour wall there are two wave spots, the ‘Wall’ and the ‘Bunker’. Both are well positioned to catch swell and they regularly do. The best waves are on lower tides when the period between them tends to stretch out a bit more, but the shallow water on the inside can catch your fins.
The ‘Wall’ is an ideal location to try wave sailing, as the current drags less experienced wave sailors away from the reef into the deeper water if they make a mistake. Advanced wave sailors can wait upwind for the best sets which allow five or so bottom turns before the wave closes out.
To the left of the ‘Wall’, the ‘Bunker’ can provide a very big wave which allows two or three frontside turns, but is not sailed very often due to its shallow reef and strong currents. It is very easy to end up on the rocks if you fall in. It can also be popular with surfers due to the quality of the wave, and they must be respected by keeping a distance away from them.
The only time to avoid the harbour wall is from two hours before to two hours after high tide. At that time the waves hit the harbour wall and bounce back forming a backwash that mixes with the original waves and results in very choppy water. The stronger wind found at the harbour wall area also means that a slightly smaller sail can be used, for example a 4.7m rather than a 5m if sailing elsewhere.
The spot also works with a southerly or south-westerly wind from the right.
Sailing Centres
Windsurfing Centres
The windsurf centres are located at South Beach (Playa Sur), five minutes' walk away along a wooden boardwalk from the centre of town, the hotels and apartments. They are more or less next door to one another at the sandy beach launch location which is particularly convenient.
- Services Overview:
- Premium Gear Rentals
- Beginners Gear Rentals
- Kids Gear Rentals
- Walk-Up Rentals
- Hourly Rentals
- Adults Lessons
- Kids Lessons
- Safety Observers
- Rescue Craft
- Windsurfer Storage
- Kitesurfer Storage
Location of centre:- Walk from accommodation
- Beachfront
Facilites:- Showers
- Changing Rooms
- Lockers
- wifi
- Retail Shop
- Equipment Washing
Other equipment for rent:- SUPs
- Surf Boards
The Duotone Pro Centre was opened in November 2018 in conjunction with Tenerife Windsurf Solutions. It is the most recent windsurf centre to open. It is situated at South Beach (Playa Sur) in front of the 100m long sandy windsurfing launch beach. The centre offers over 70 storage lockers, equipment rinsing and washing area, showers, changing area, toilets, a shop Read more... - Ocean Calling Tenerife is located on the same 100m long stretch of sandy beach front as the other windsurfing centres on South Beach (playa Sur). It is a test centre for the RRD brand of boards and sails. Spanish, English, German and Russian are spoken. Opening Times: • Open every day from 10am until 6pm Services: • Rental • Lessons Read more...
- Services Overview:
- Premium Gear Rentals
Surf Centre Playa Sur is located on the edge of the grounds of Hotel Playa Sur Tenerife at the southern end of the windsurfing launching spot beside where the kiters launch. It is a family owned business that has been open almost forty years. Its guests can use some of the facilities of the Hotel Playa Sur. The staff speak Read more... - Services Overview:
- Premium Gear Rentals
- Adults Lessons
- Kids Lessons
Location of centre:- Beachfront
Facilites:- Showers
Other equipment for rent:- SUPs
- Surf Boards
Tenerife Windsurfing Solutions is located on the 100m long sandy windsurfing launching spot at South Beach (Playa Sur). It markets itself as a test and demo centre, because it provides so many different brands of equipment to use. It is also the only centre providing full race equipment, although this is during the winter months only. It is also unique Read more...
Kitesurfing Centres
- Services Overview:
- Premium Gear Rentals
- Beginners Gear Rentals
- Kids Gear Rentals
- Walk-Up Rentals
- Hourly Rentals
- Adults Lessons
- Kids Lessons
- Safety Observers
- Rescue Craft
- Windsurfer Storage
- Kitesurfer Storage
Location of centre:- Walk from accommodation
- Beachfront
Facilites:- Showers
- Changing Rooms
- Lockers
- wifi
- Retail Shop
- Equipment Washing
Other equipment for rent:- SUPs
- Surf Boards
The Duotone Pro Centre was opened in November 2018 in conjunction with Tenerife Windsurf Solutions. It is the most recent windsurf centre to open. It is situated at South Beach (Playa Sur) in front of the 100m long sandy windsurfing launch beach. The centre offers over 70 storage lockers, equipment rinsing and washing area, showers, changing area, toilets, a shop Read more... - Services Overview:
- Premium Gear Rentals
- Safety Observers
Other equipment for rent:- SUPs
- Surf Boards
Kite Centre Playa Sur is located on the edge of the grounds of Hotel Playa Sur Tenerife at the southern end of the windsurfing launching spot beside where the kiters launch. It is a family owned business that has been open almost forty years since it began as a windsurfing centre. Its guests can use some of the facilities of Read more... - Ocean Calling Tenerife is located on the same 100m long stretch of sandy beach front as the other windsurfing centres on South Beach (playa Sur). It is a test centre for the RRD brand of boards and sails. Spanish, English, German and Russian are spoken. Opening Times: • Open every day from 10am until 6pm Services: • Rental • Lessons Read more...
- Services Overview:
- Premium Gear Rentals
- Adults Lessons
Sunset Kite Centre is located in the town rather than at the beach. However, they conduct their lessons at the kite launching beach at South Beach in the same area as the other kite schools. They also specialise in conducting surfing courses. The centre is also a Cabrinha board and kite test centre. Opening Times: Open 7 days a week Read more... - Services Overview:
- Premium Gear Rentals
Surf Centre Playa Sur is located on the edge of the grounds of Hotel Playa Sur Tenerife at the southern end of the windsurfing launching spot beside where the kiters launch. It is a family owned business that has been open almost forty years. Its guests can use some of the facilities of the Hotel Playa Sur. The staff speak Read more...
El Medano Accommodation
El Medano has plenty of accommodation located within five to ten minutes walks of the windsurfing centres at South Beach.
The large resorts of Playa de Las Americas are 20km away for those that want a busier nightlife than that found in El Medano. These are the large resorts favoured by the European package holiday companies.
Featured Accommodation
- Beach Access:
- Beach-front
Room Types:- Single
- Twin
- Double
Property Facilities:- Restaurant(s)
- Bar(s)
Hotel El Medano is an Art Deco looking building built out over the water and the back of the building resembles an ocean liner. Rooms cater for 1 – 2 guests and have satellite TV, private bathroom (with a bath) and private balcony. The hotel features a sun terrace overlooking the ocean with sun lounges and deck chairs. Breakfast is Read more... - Star Rating:
- 3-star
Beach Access:- Beach-front
Room Types:- Single
- Twin
- Double
Room Facilities:- Private Bathroom
- Balcony or Terrace
- Views
- Non-Smoking
Property Facilities:- Child Friendly
- Restaurant(s)
- Bar(s)
- Outdoor Pool
- Communal Lounge Area
- Car Parking
Hotel Playa Sur is located on the beach at El Medano. Rooms are simple (accommodating single/twin/doubles) with pine furniture and all have a balcony with sea view. Facilities include an outdoor pool with sun terrace, bike & surfboard storage and a sauna (costs extra). There is a restaurant & poolside bar, massage services are available for an extra cost. Free Read more...
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- S
- NE
- SW
- Bump and Jump
- Advanced Wave Sailing
- Intermediate Wave Sailing
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Small Waves
- Large Waves
- Chop
- Open Sea
- Moderate Temp Water
- Salt Water
- Sand
- Town
- Accommodation
- Bar
- Restaurants
- BBQ
- Kite Shop
- Windsurfer Shop
- Reefs
- Rocks
El Médano
Tenerife
38612
Spain
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