Kitesurf spot: Pointe Rouge
All the information you need to kite there safely
Kitesurf spot: Pointe Rouge
All the information you need to kite there safely
The Pointe-Rouge is THE emblematic spot of Marseille. Because of its atypical situation, it is an urban spot which has its advantages and its disadvantages.
Located in the south of the city, the spot is probably one of the few in France to be accessible by public transport or by bike!
Small specificity, there are two beaches on the spot according to the period of the year because of the tourist influx in summer.
That of "Bonneveine" or "Prado beach" practicable from October to May. The "Vieille Chapelle" beach in front of the Red Lion pub is open during the summer period, from June to September.
Be careful though, the Pointe-Rouge spot does not only owe its reputation to its unusual location but also to its technicality. Dikes, rocks and restricted spaces are the reasons why we advise beginners not to venture there!
So to all the seasoned kiters and those in the making, here's what you need to know to come ride at Pointe-Rouge safely 😉
The wind
You will be able to sail in west, northwest and north winds. However, the mistral is a particular wind and the gusts can double the wind strength in no time, so don't do the job and get informed before you start!😉
Potential dangers
This spot is considered very technical to evolve safely, be sure to follow these 4 tips:
1/ The dikes
The spot is surrounded by dykes made of rocks which makes the spot very technical with the mistral blowing irregularly. Not only because they are very close. We do not make you a drawing on who is the most robust between you, your wing and the rock.
2/ The water start
As we have already explained to you, the spot is not exactly the same in summer and in winter. In summer, the water start is done from the Vieille Chapelle beach. In reality, it is from the sea wall that you have to start and that leaves little room for error.
3/ The mistral
The mistral is a very irregular wind that blows in gusts. It is these gusts that are dangerous because the force of the wind can double in one go. So if you don't know the Mistral, get to know it before you face it!
4/ The influx
Who says beach easily accessible is synonymous with affluence. You will have understood that the spot is narrow and popular in summer. So be careful of those around you, whether they are other water sports enthusiasts or swimmers.
Access
The beach of the Pointe Rouge is located in the south of the city in the 8th district.
By public transport
From Marseille center/Vieux Port, about 30min : via Metro line 1 then Bus line 19
By car
From Aix en Provence-Nice/Côte d'Azur, via freeway A8 then A52, A501 and A50 towards Avenue du Prado.
From Lyon-Montpellier, via freeway A7 then A55 and Prado S tunnel.
In summary:
The spot of the Pointe Rouge in Marseille is a double-edged spot. On the one hand, it is unique because of its location in the middle of the city, but on the other hand, it is dangerous because of the rocks, the limited space, the crowds (especially in summer) and the mistral wind.
The most important thing to remember about the Pointe Rouge is that it is a spot reserved for experienced surfers and that even for them, you have to learn to tame the gusty mistral before going!