You will hear the meltemi before you see it, rattling the tamarisks behind the beach. It is the local word for the dry summer wind that comes down the Aegean from the north, and at Kouremenos it arrives with interest.
The bay sits just outside Palekastro in the far east of Crete: a long curve of sand and fine pebble, olive groves and low hills behind, the red cliffs of Kastri at the south end, and on a proper day a scatter of sails right across the blue.
Most people rig 4.5 to 5.3 metres in high summer, so if you are overpowered, come in and change down.
ERA5 puts the share of rideable days 13.3 points higher here, and no weather station has settled it, so treat these figures as a guide.
At a glance
Is it for you?
Skill levelBring your A-game
WaterBit of chop
Wind · JunUsually turns up
Crowds · JunRoom to ride
Local vibeFriendly enough
Water qualityClean
NightlifeA bar or two
CostMid
Geek analysis
June in the record
75% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.
In June the wind most often sits at 16 to 19 kt (24% of daylight hours) and is over 12 kt from 8am to 6pm on at least half the days. See both charts in the full report
No weather station near enough to check these figures against.
June on the record
The month's own figures, not the year's average.
Rideable days23 of 30Four Junes in the record
Wind, rideable hours19 ktMean over daylight hours at 12 kt+
Air23.5°CMaximum
Take it with you
The full Kouremenos report
Seven sections over six pages, built from the same record as this page. A PDF you can read on the plane.
01Hour-by-hour & month-by-month wind02The month's own records03Stays, the centre & kit04Launches & tide notes05Windsurf, kite & Blue Flag rules06Getting there, packing & best months07Sources, and their limits
WindChaser spot reportKouremenosCrete, Greece · June75% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.
When it gets busy
Crowds
Aug · Medium
Even in July and August the water stays uncrowded, with no mass tourism in the area. Mind the swimming area close to the beach, and give way to learners inside.
On the water
What June usually does
Wind directionNWThe meltemi, side-shore from the left with a touch of offshore across an enclosed bay.
Wind strength4 to 7 BftThe range the centres and guides give for the summer. Most windsurfers rig 4.5 to 5.3 metres.
When it blowsAll dayThe centres describe wind all day in season. An older guide has it easing from about 5 pm.
Your playground
Launches & safety
Conditions change. Check local rules and conditions before you ride.
Launch
Hazard
Parking
School
Stay
Webcam
Approximate
Local intel
Getting there & on the ground
Nearest airportSitia (JSH)About 15 minutes by car, with daily flights to Athens. Heraklion (HER) is the long way in, 147 km to Sitia.
On the groundJune to OctoberThe NW meltemi months. Gone Surfing opens from 1 May.
Getting aroundCar or busA local bus runs from Sitia to Palekastro, about 20 minutes. The beach is about 1.5 km from the village.
