What it's actually like

Salam, and welcome to my bay. It means peace, and it is how people say hello here. Essaouira is a town beach before it is a wind spot: the sand runs south from the medina walls, Mogador island sits across the bay, and you rig with the old town along the bay to your right and the gulls wheeling overhead.

I have ridden this bay every season for years and it still gets me every time, the way a sleepy morning turns into a bay full of sails by the afternoon. People come here for the rush, and on a proper day the bay hands it over.

Once you are riding upwind with confidence, schools organise downwinders for intermediate and advanced kiters south to Sidi Kaouki, about 25 km along the coast.

Your month

When it's good

12 kt+ for 3+ daylight hours · kite

July · 81%. 25 rideable days in 31, 9.5 hours a day over 12 kt. Come.

At a glance

Is it for you?

Skill levelGetting there

WaterMixed bag

Wind · JulUsually turns up

Crowds · JulHeavy in season

Local vibeFriendly enough

Water qualityClean

NightlifeA bar or two

CostMid

Geek analysis

July in the record

81% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.

Where the wind sits

Share of daylight hours in each speed band. Blue clears the bar.

4–73

8–1116

12–1535

16–1932

20–2312

24–272

28–310

When in the day

The trades are a clock. A dawn session is a different spot.

8am

9

10

11

12pm

1pm

2

3

4

5

6pm

July on the record

The month's own figures, not the year's average.

Rideable days25 of 31Worst 19 in 2013, best 31 in 2018

DirectionNNE 20°

Strongest gust41 ktIn 2017

Air26.4°CMaximum

Waves1.6 m77% of days run big

Record 1940 to 2026Normals 1995 to 2024Open-Meteo, ERA5

Take it with you

The full Essaouira report

Eight sections over six to eight 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 & kit04Per-launch tide windows05Town-end rocks, gusts & swell06Getting there, packing & best months07Sources, and their limits

Three free reports with an account, then premium.

When it gets busy

Crowds

Jul · High

June to August the sand in front of the schools gets busy when it blows, with the kite schools out. Walk further down the beach and the water opens up again.

On the water

What July usually does

Wind directionN to NNEThe summer trade, side-shore from the right on the main beach, May to August.

Wind strength15 to 25 ktThe season range the guides give. Summer afternoons can reach 30 kt, so have your smaller kit ready when it builds.

When it blowsAfternoonsLight in the morning, then it builds through the day and the afternoon is when it goes off.

Your playground

Launches & safety

Local intel

Getting there & on the ground

Nearest airportEssaouira (ESU)About 15 km from town. Marrakech (RAK) is the long way in.

On the groundMay to AugustThe months the N to NNE trade runs most days.

Getting aroundOn foot from townThe beach clubs are on the seafront road, Boulevard Mohammed V.

Stay, schools & kit

Who works this beach

Ocean Vagabond (ION Club)SchoolKite · Windsurf · WingCentre on the beach, Boulevard Mohammed V. Open all year, with a rescue boat.Photo: Ocean Vagabond-Salt Water Elements essaouira via Google

Seagull ClubSchoolKite · WingKite and wing lessons on the beach, plus downwind trips.Photo: Marina Pregigueiro via Google

KSE Kite & Surf EssaouiraSchoolKite · WingLocal school on the central beach, working alongside Seagull Club for wing.Photo: Kitty Zhao via Google

NaneaKiteSchoolKite · WingLessons and multi-day camps, based on Rue Abdari near the medina.Photo: NaneaKite - Kitesurf camp & Essaouira kitesurf school via Google

Flyin' SurfSchoolKite · WingSchool based in town, with impact vests and helmets supplied for kite lessons.Photo: Essaouira Flyin' Surf School Morocco: Essaouira, Surf, Kitesurf, Wingfoil, Stand-Up Paddle, Maroc via Google

Did I miss something out?Send it straight to me. I wrote this page.