Martinhal, Sagres, Portugal: windsurf guide

What it's actually like

Compiled by WindChaser, 27 September 2026

Praia do Martinhal is a long sweep of sand just east of Sagres, inside the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, with the limestone islets of the Ilhotes do Martinhal sitting out in the bay. The Martinhal resort looks over it, and the Iberian Windsurf Cup gives the beach as its address.

Windsurf Magazine calls it a speed sailing and freestyle nirvana, and the wave beaches of Tonel and Mareta are on the far side of the town, within 3 km.

In each of those months more than half the days clear 12 knots for three daylight hours or more, and August is the pick, at about two in three.

Your month

When it's good

January · 52%. 16 rideable days in 31, 5.4 hours a day over 12 kt. Bring a book.

Where else it blows in January

ERA5 puts the share of rideable days 17 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 · JanHit and miss

Crowds · JanBusy patches

Local vibeFriendly enough

Water qualityClean

NightlifeA bar or two

CostMid

Geek analysis

January in the record

52% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.

In January the wind most often sits at 8 to 11 kt (28% of daylight hours). No daylight hour is over 12 kt on at least half the days. The best hours are 3pm to 4pm, each on 46% of 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 days16 of 31Four Januaries in the record

Wind, rideable hours16 ktMean over daylight hours at 12 kt+

Air15.2°CMaximum

Take it with you

The full Martinhal, Sagres 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 school and where the kit is04Per-launch tide notes05Offshore wind, rocks & the rules06Getting there, packing & best months07Sources, and their limits

When it gets busy

Crowds

Aug · High

Kite Insider rates the crowds medium, and busy from June to September. Windsurf Magazine and Surf Magazin say the sand fills with swimmers and sunbathers in high season until the wind drives them off. The Iberian Windsurf Cup holds its Sagres stop here in June.

On the water

What January usually does

January sits outside the best months here. 52% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.

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 airportFaro (FAO)About 122 km by road, around 1 hour 55 minutes.

On the groundMay to AugustThe windiest months in the record. August is the pick.

Getting aroundPaved road, car parkA paved road leaves the N268 about 100 m from the entrance to Sagres; an unpaved car park takes about 78 cars, then a path and boardwalks to the sand (council). Tonel is about 3 km by road, Mareta about 2.3 km.

Stay, schools & kit

Who works this beach

Wind4AllSchool$$$MidWindsurf · SUP · KayakWindsurf centre on Praia do Martinhal, open 1 March to 31 October: courses from a try-out to advanced, with published prices.Website

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