Windsurfing and Kitesurfing Championships in Tarifa

Tarifa has become known as 'the Wind Capital' for many different reasons. Its wind reliability probably tops them all.It is very difficult to have two consecutive non windy days, as the detailed comparative chart shows.

However conditions are not always constant. It is wise to bring your full range of sails (renting locally is any easy option with the many schools spread along the beach). Here it is just as common to sail with your 3.5 m² as it is with your 6.5 m², even if I personally consider the 4.5 m² as the ideal sail. The new trend is to use a wave board in strong winds and kitesurf when winds are weaker.

Apart from rare occasions (during equinoxes and storms) the water is pretty flat, which make it ideal for beginners and slalom sailors. The most radical often make the trip to Caños de Meca which is only 50 km away. This is best after a few days of strong levante.
The Wind
Tarifa has two prevailing winds, the south easterly known as the Levante and the westerly known as the Poniente. This is because of the mountain ranges on either side of the straits which not only bends other winds but also acts as a funnel, intensifying it.

However strong winds are also the result of other conditions such as the temperature difference between the Atlantic and Mediterranean and the high and low pressure zones that place themselves on either side of it's coast. The wind, and the weather in general, can change very quickly here and even the most accurate weather forecasts are not always reliable.

In areas such as Casa de Porro it is further accelerated due to thermal differences between the sea and land. This also explains why the winds are strongest between 14:00 and 18:00hr.

SHOP ADDRESS TELEPHONE
100% FUN C.N. 340. Km. 76 +34 956 68 00 13
RICK SHAPES Batalla del Salado +34 956 68 08 77
9X9 El Recreo, local +34 956 68 08 77
HOTSTICK Batalla del Salado, 43 +34 956 68 04 14
TRANKILO Batalla del Salado 2 +34 956 68 21 37
INDICO Batalla del Salado, 23 +34 956 68 05 33
BIG FISH Batalla del Salado +34 956 681 247
ART OF Windsurfing Batalla del Salado, 47 +34 956 68 52 04
X-TREM Batalla del Salado, 46 +34 956 68 16 89
FUN WORKS c/ Tinto, 1 +34 956 68 43 60
WAX c/ San Sebastián, 15 +34 956 68 49 52
LIFESTYLE Batalla del Salado, 48 +34 956 68 12 47
BULL SAILS C/ Braille 5 +34 956 680459
SOUTH SHOP C/ Trafalgar, 1 +34 956 68 04 65
INDIAN El Recreo +34 956 68 18 81
VENTILADOR José Ma Peman, 6 +34 627 45 45 19

Great for Windsurfingers who want to both sail and stay out late at night. (yeah!!!) Harder for the beginners who normally have to start their courses at 10:00. (sigh :-()
Schools & Rentals
SPIN OUT SURFBASE TARIFA (b)
MAX SPORT TARIFA
CLUB MISTRAL TARIFA (b)
BIC SPORT CENTER TARIFA (b)
PATA NEGRA TARIFA (b)
UCPA TARIFA (b)
LA CABAÑA BOLONIA (b)
EL VENTILADOR TARIFA
Highlighted have website link
(b) on beach
So many windy days have made Tarifa one of the prime testing spots for all sail makers. Some have decided to move their design and testing team to Tarifa. Others have set up the whole company here. This high concentration of Windsurfing and kitesurf equipment production, and low prices of the Spanish economy, make Tarifa also the right and convenient place to repair your sails. Over night repairs and new sails will be found at these links.