La Franqui is part of Leucate, on the Mediterranean coast of the Aude between Narbonne and Perpignan. Its beach, Les Coussoules, is eight kilometres of unspoilt sand by one school’s count, with shallow lagoons behind the coast. Two winds make the place: the Tramontane from the north-west and the Marin from the south-east.
Every April the Mondial du Vent brings the world wingfoil and windsurf tours to the beach.
The wind blows through the day and builds a little towards the afternoon: in March about four days in ten are windy at 8am and more than half by mid-afternoon.
ERA5 puts the share of rideable days 14.8 points lower here, and no weather station has settled it, so treat these figures as a guide.
At a glance
Is it for you?
Skill levelComfortable
WaterBit of chop
Wind · JanUsually turns up
Crowds · JanRoom to ride
Local vibeFriendly enough
Water qualityUsually clean
NightlifeA bar or two
CostMid
Geek analysis
January in the record
58% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.
In January the wind most often sits at 4 to 7 kt (26% of daylight hours) and is over 12 kt at 2pm on at least half the days. See both charts in the full report
No weather station near enough to check these figures against.
January on the record
The month's own figures, not the year's average.
Rideable days18 of 31Four Januaries in the record
Wind, rideable hours20 ktMean over daylight hours at 12 kt+
Air11.0°CMaximum
Waves0.6 m4% of days run big
Take it with you
The full Leucate, La Franqui 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 records03Full stays, schools & kit04Launch notes, sea and lagoon05Beach zones, the lagoon order & the Tramontane06Getting there, packing & best months07Sources, and their limits
WindChaser spot reportLeucate, La FranquiOccitanie, France · January58% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.
When it gets busy
Crowds
Jun · High
Apprendre le kitesurf rates the numbers at La Franqui high from June to August, moderate from March to May, low in September and October and very low from November to February. The Mondial du Vent fills La Franqui every April; the next edition runs from 1 to 11 April 2027.
On the water
What January usually does
Wind directionNW or SEThe Tramontane from the north-west, offshore at Les Coussoules; the Marin from the south-east.
Wind strength18 to 20 ktThe mean over rideable daylight hours, January to May, in the record. The Tramontane gusts far harder.
When it blowsAll dayWindy from morning, building a little towards the afternoon in the record.
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 airportPerpignan (PGF)About 37 km by road, about 40 minutes.
On the groundJanuary to MayThe windiest months in the record. Most schools teach in summer.
Getting aroundTrain or carLeucate-La Franqui has its own railway station; Perpignan airport is about 37 km by road.
