Kite Beach is on the east side of Sal, one of the Cape Verde islands, 10 to 15 minutes by taxi from the centre of Santa Maria. It is about three kilometres of open beach facing the trade wind, and for years it was called Shark Bay, more a name, the schools say, than a sign of sharks. There is little on the beach beyond the kite centres and a small bar.
December to June is the season. In every one of those months more than eight days in ten clear 12 knots for three daylight hours or more, and February and May are the pick, at more than nine in ten. The mean over those rideable hours sits between 15 and 17 knots, and it blows all day: in February three days in four are already windy at 8am, nine in ten by early afternoon. July and August are the flat months, at under half. A February session here is reliably powered up.
Best Kites teaches all levels daily from 9am to 6pm with free hotel transfers for course riders.
Not yet checked against a weather station or an independent model, so treat these figures as a guide.
At a glance
Is it for you?
Skill levelComfortable
WaterMixed bag
Wind · FebUsually turns up
Crowds · FebHeavy in season
Local vibeFriendly enough
Water qualityUsually clean
NightlifeA bar or two
CostMid
Geek analysis
February in the record
92% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.
In February the wind most often sits at 12 to 15 kt or 16 to 19 kt (36% of daylight hours each) 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.
February on the record
The month's own figures, not the year's average.
Rideable days26 of 28Ten Februaries in the record
Wind, rideable hours17 ktMean over daylight hours at 12 kt+
Air21.6°CMaximum
Take it with you
The full Sal, Kite Beach 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 schools & kit04Per-launch tide notes05Reef, waves & riding with others06Getting there, packing & best months07Sources, and their limits
WindChaser spot reportSal, Kite BeachSal, Cape Verde · February92% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.
When it gets busy
Crowds
Feb · High
Compiled research puts the busy months from December to March, with the wind, and again in July and August with the holidays. It is not a head count.
On the water
What February usually does
Wind directionOnshore to side-onThe trade wind, onshore to side-onshore at Kite Beach, per Best Kites.
Wind strength15 to 17 ktThe mean over rideable daylight hours, December to June, in the record.
When it blowsAll dayIn February three days in four are windy at 8am, nine in ten by early afternoon.
Your playground
Launches & safety
Conditions change. Check local rules and conditions before you ride.
Launch
Hazard
Parking
School
Stay
Webcam
Approximate
We haven't found published rules for this spot.
Local intel
Getting there & on the ground
Nearest airportSal (SID)Amílcar Cabral International, on Sal.
