Kitesurf & Wingfoil: set sail on a cruise to access the best spots

Are you a thrill-seeking person, always ready for an exciting experience? Or perhaps you're an experienced kitesurfer, but frustrated with having to settle for just one spot for your vacation. In any case, I have an idea to propose: a cruise on a sailboat, to access all the must-see spots of a destination, even the least accessible ones!

Kitesurf, wing foil: the basics

What is kitesurfing?

Kitesurfing, often abbreviated to kite, is a water sport consisting of gliding (surf) on water using a board, while being pulled by a kite sail inflated by the wind. The kitesurfer is equipped with a harness to which traction lines are attached, connecting them to the sail. The lines also pass through a bar system that allows the kitesurfer to steer their sail.

Kite was invented as early as the 20th century! The patent for the curved sail as we know it today was filed in the 1980s by two brothers from Quimper. However, the sport only began to become very popular from the 2000s onwards.

Who is this sport for?

Kitesurfing is considered an extreme sport, but whose risks have been significantly reduced by equipment improvements. It therefore remains accessible to those interested. Indeed, this sport requires only a little muscle strength and endurance, and is therefore an activity open to all types of profiles. However, it's important to mention the importance of being a good swimmer (required for any registration) and having good balance if you want to start kiting.

The most common age to start kitesurfing is between 10 and 12 years old. As for the maximum age, there really isn't one!

...and wing foil?

Wing foil is also a water sport, considered a variant of kitesurfing. Here too, the winger has a board, but different from kite: it's called a foil board. The foil is a kind of wing under the board, submerged when the board is put in the water, which has the effect of lifting the board above the water surface. Thus, you lose a large part of the friction with the water, and therefore gain speed! The other difference of this sport is the sail. The wing is deltaplane-shaped and is pre-inflated. The winger holds it directly with their hands.

This discipline is the newest of the gliding sports, as it was only created in 2019! Today, it's becoming popular at an incredible speed: the number of wing enthusiasts has reportedly even surpassed that of kite.

Who is this sport for?

Here again, wing foil is an extreme sport, but as accessible as kitesurfing, or sometimes more so, thanks to its less cumbersome and lighter inflatable sail, or the absence of a harness. Moreover, even a moderate wind of 7 to 8 knots is enough to launch on the water, making it an activity less dependent on weather or geographical conditions.

As for age, it's recommended to start around 8 years old for children. As with kite, even older people can try it!

Why do it during a cruise?

I've found 3 subjective points to convince you of the value of a cruise dedicated to kite and wing:

• Much fewer people than at the beach. It's calmer on the water!
• Easy access to the best spots for sailing, with the ability to test all the best spots in a region during a week.
• More favorable weather, especially regarding wind, which is stronger, and water surfaces, which are flatter.

Note however that I recommend 100% kite or wing cruises to people who already have experience in these activities. For beginners, the close presence of a shore can be reassuring!

The best cruise destinations for kite or wing

The Grenadines: go surfing in the Caribbean paradise

A boat rental in the Grenadines is a departure to one of the most beautiful destinations in the Antilles, quite simply. Golden beaches, lush palm trees and colorful fish, everything there reminds you that there are still places where nature exercises its rights. Surfing like this, amid virgin, still wild landscapes, is a unique experience.

As for the departure season, the Kitetrip Planner site recommends leaving during the trade winds season, between December and July.

My 3 favorite spots

Here are the 3 spots I prefer to recommend:

• Union Island, with its volcanic landscapes.
• Salt Whistle Bay on Mayreau Island, and its two faces.
• The Tobago Cays, 5 small must-see islands of the destination.

Which rental company to contact?

For this destination, I advise you to contact the company Alizé Fun to make an appointment. You'll have the opportunity to rent wing foil equipment for several days, without necessary supervision. Their shop is located in Martinique near Sainte Anne and Cap Chevalier, ideal before your boarding to the Grenadines.

The Cyclades: a dream experience, carried by the Meltemi

In addition to their Mediterranean landscapes, the Cyclades offer surfers a strong and constant wind, the meltemi. For kitesurfing, which requires wind between 15 and 25 knots, it's perfect, especially for challenge lovers. And between gliding sessions, you can discover these Greek islands, from the blue domes of Santorini to the white walls of Mykonos.

A summer departure is recommended, between May and September, to best enjoy the destination's weather conditions. The months of July and August are however right in the middle of high season, with heavy tourist traffic.

My 3 favorite spots

Among the 250 islands of the Cyclades, I had to choose 3 that stand out:

• Paros and the village of Pounta
• Mikri Vigla beach in Naxos
• Mykonos and Korfos beach

Which rental company to contact?

I advise you to rent your equipment on your arrival island, before picking up your boat. In Mykonos, you can for example rent kite or wing equipment for 5 days at Duotone Pro Center.

Corsica: no need to go to the other side of the world to glide on water!

Compared to other destinations, Corsica offers the advantage of proximity for anyone living in mainland France. But Corsica also means coves, a culture influenced by those of France and Italy, and above all, two strong and reliable winds, the Mistral and the Libeccio, winds very suitable for kite or wing practice. And as a bonus, departing from the south, you'll have access to the spots of northern Sardinia, 8 nautical miles from Bonifacio.

As with Greece, a summer departure is recommended, between May and September. The risk of showers during this period is very low.

My 3 favorite spots

For this last destination, I've selected 3 spots that I consider among the best:

• Balistra beach, near Bonifacio.
• Testa Bay, next to Pianotolli, where you can go back and forth between the beach of the same name and that of Stagnolu.
• Barrabisa beach, not far from Palau, in northern Sardinia.

Which rental company to contact?

The company where I would rent equipment if I were you is SudGlisse, in Porto Vecchio, where you can rent your kite and wing equipment.

What about equipment?

Kitesurfer essentials

For kitesurfing you'll need at minimum:

• A board, twintip for beginners, directional for advanced riders. Its volume and length should be proportional to your size (between 130 and 137 cm for the smallest among you, between 137 and 145 cm for the tallest).
• A kite, which you must select judiciously according to wind speed. For rather weak winds, between 10 and 25 knots, it's recommended to choose a sail ranging from 12 to 8 square meters, versus a sail of 8 to 6 square meters in winds over 25 knots.
• A bar, ideally from the same brand as your sail, and adapted to its size (50 to 55 cm for a large sail, versus a length of 45 to 50 cm for a small sail).
• A harness in which you feel comfortable.
• A wetsuit or lycra top, to avoid getting cold in the water.

Various non-essential equipment might also interest you! For example, if you want to ensure your safety, don't hesitate to get a helmet. You can also equip your board with a foil to do kitefoiling!

Wingfoiler essentials

For your wing vacation, you'll need at least:

• A board, either rigid for better stability and maneuverability, or inflatable if you prioritize ease of transport and practicality. Note that an inflatable board must have a higher volume than a rigid board that would suit you (about 15 to 20 L more)
• A wing, 5 square meters on average in winds of 15 to 25 knots, 3.5 square meters on average in winds of 25 knots and above. You'll also need to choose between wishbone handles, for long crossings, rigid handles for increased reactivity, and soft handles to maximize the wing's lightness.
• A foil, which can be carbon (rigid, for better sensations), or aluminum (more economical)
• A wetsuit or lycra top, as for kite

As with kite, you can choose to equip yourself with a helmet to reduce accident risks. Another possibility is to get a harness that you'll attach to your wing. The advantage? You transfer part of the wing's weight from your arms to your body!

Good deals for getting equipment

Overall, you have 4 different possibilities:

• Rent your equipment by the day for each destination of your cruise.
• Rent your equipment for the entire duration of your cruise. However, be careful to find a rental company that allows such long rentals.
• Bring your own equipment, which you can transport using a boardbag.
• Have your equipment delivered directly to your French departure airport, thanks to the services of certain rental companies like The Ridery. How does it work? It's simple: you indicate the equipment you need and the duration you want to rent it, then answer a few questions to determine your level and the type of equipment you need. On the day of your departure to the airport, your reservation is delivered directly to you, and you don't have to worry about anything!

Some additional information

Remember to prepare your kite or wing vacation well

Whether to choose the best spots or to check weather conditions (very important as your sail size depends on it), you'll have a better chance of avoiding setbacks by planning ahead! Here are some apps that might be useful:

• Windy, an app for getting forecasts about wind speed and direction, or sea state.
• KiteMap, an app for finding the best kite spots near your destination.
• KiteSpot, an app that gathers kitesurfers' reviews about the different spots they've experienced.
• Navily, a free app for boat navigation that will allow you to find the best anchorages for calm times during your cruise.

Always pay attention to your safety!

Having fun is important, but so is your safety. Some essential safety rules:

• Wear a helmet and life jacket to practice safely.
• Surf in winds between 10 and 35 knots maximum (for the most experienced), blowing perpendicular to the beach.
• Respect the starboard right-of-way rule (the surfer who has their wind on starboard has priority).
• Stay away from boats, other boards, and vacationers.
• Communicate as much as possible about your movement intentions using hand signals.

Sources used for writing this article:

• [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiteboarding
• [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wing_foiling
• [3] https://www.manawa.com/en/articles/a-beginners-guide-to-kitesurfing
• [4] https://kitesurflasterrenas.com/kiteboarding-boat/
• [5] https://kitesurfhyeres.com/en/the-wing-foil-guide-for-beginners/
• [6] https://srokacompany.com/en/blog/5-reasons-to-practice-wing-foil/
• [7] https://www.kitesurfgrenadines.com/kitesurfing-grenadines/kitesurfing-surfing-spots/
• [8] https://www.theriderexperience.com/blog/spot-guides/grenadines-kitesurfing-spot-guide
• [9] https://kitetrip-planner.com/en/kitesurfing-in-grenadines-islands/
• [10] https://en.alizefunkitemartinique.com/
• [11] https://kitetrip-planner.com/en/kitesurfing-in-greece/
• [12] https://kitesurftheworld.com/kitespots/greece/
• [13] https://www.reddit.com/r/Kiteboarding/comments/1lyaqd1/top_spots_greece/
• [14] https://www.dpc-mykonos.com/
• [15] https://kitejungle.com/kite-places/corsica
• [16] https://www.kitesurfy.com/kitespot-finder?kitespot=corsica
• [17] https://sudglisse.com/
• [18] https://www.passarokite.com/blog/kite/kitesurf-gear-guide/
• [19] https://www.ion-club.net/choose-wingfoil-gear-2025/
• [20] https://theridery.com/
• [21] https://www.reddit.com/r/Kiteboarding/comments/jhb7cb/an_app_for_kiting/
• [22] https://kitesurfing-handbook.peterskiteboarding.com/safety