A good cross-onshore wave spot in easterly winds. From the sandy beach and car-park you'll have to make a few tacks upwind to La Tour. In strong easterlies, logo-high waves can break on the rocks; so pull out of your waverides early. Alternatively also a nice freeride spot with views of Saint-Tropez. Launching kites is officially banned year-round, although nobody cares in winter.

Keel is a popular surf-spot year-round – and there's plenty to enjoy with a sail or kite too. It’s best in a north-westerly wind with W to SW swell. The launch is at the second car-park, by the campsite. The waves are smaller in the north of the bay, increasing in size further south. But you’ll have to contend with gusty conditions as the imposing Mount Minaun to the south creates dirty wind. Accommodation's no problem in Keel either: campsites, B&Bs, holiday homes – this place has it all.

This is a real swell magnet – actually more of a surf-spot, but increasingly popular with kiters and windsurfers too. The sandy beach provides plenty of room, except at high tide when it gets a bit narrow for launching. It’s also gentle enough for wave newcomers in medium swell. In a south-westerly, it’s better at 'Cross' at the southern end of the beach. In a westerly or offshore easterly, little Lough Roonah offers perfect flat water that kiters particularly appreciate. If there hasn’t been much rain, it can get very shallow though.

The most easterly of Brandon Bay’s mighty beach-breaks – if the wind direction’s not quite right, just follow the sweeping coastline round to a better launch. Dumps offers perfect jump-ramps and a stunning view of Mount Brandon and Brandon Head; the most spectacular scenery in the area.

The 1km-long Playa Covas in the protection of Ria de Viveiro is one of the region’s few spots that work in a rare northerly. Thanks to a thermal, in fine weather you can even count on a few knots more here.

To be precise, this spot is at the 'Strandbad Edam’ campsite. Winds between north and easterly are sailable and for beginners there’s a 100m-wide expanse of shallow water. Once the wind dies off for the evening, why not enjoy some warm Dutch hospitality in nearby Volendam?

The only viable spot in the west of Paros is one of Greece’s best and most popular kite beaches. The 1300m wide strait between the island and neighbouring Antiparos offers perfectly flat water, constant wind and a whole lot of safety. The only downside is that, like all over Paros, it gets very busy in high season.

This beautiful bay is a popular training venue; broad sections are standing-depth, the water’s warm, and a westerly thermal regularly delivers Force 4 winds; only easterly gets very gusty. If you can waterstart, head straight out of the bay to let off some steam in the bigger chop further out. There's busy traffic in this narrow gulf – beginners, pleasure boats and jet-skis can sometimes cause confusion. Also pay attention to four rocks lurking just underwater in the middle of the bay; they’re marked by buoys, but only in summer. The best launch for windsurfing is at the surf-school. Kiters have to carry their kit 15 minutes south. The eastern car-park is height restricted; campervan drivers have to look west.

This versatile spot on the Isefjord is sailable in all wind directions except north-easterly. It’s best-known as a slalom and beginner venue, even though the mussel-beds demand boots in summer. Just like Rinkøbing Fjord, shallow water calls for small fins – which may even be too long in southerly winds, when the water gets blown out of the bay. There’s another side to Lynæs too, as a few days of strong south to south-westerly produces clean 1m-high wind-waves.

The main spots are focussed around Le Morne on the island’s south-west tip. The imposing Mount Brabant isn’t just a majestic backdrop; together with the nearby mountains it accelerates the trades by 5-10 knots, delivering reliable wind. One launch serves five spots covering the whole gamut of conditions. Le Morne Lagoon is a massive flat-water playground. In strong winds it gets choppy and in large swell suffers strong currents – and watch out for the odd coral head! Straight out from the Mistral Centre is the Inner Reef, which is a good training spot on average days but not to be underestimated in big swell. At up to 6m, Manawa is one of Le Morne’s big wave spots, yet it’s still fun to ride. Best in easterlies and at low tide, the catch being that the reef’s 1km further south across a large channel with very strong currents. Plus the wind’s usually a little lighter there, so only go out in stable conditions! Chameaux lies at the western edge of the reef. It’s a dangerous break as the reef is shallow, the waves large and currents strong. It’s particularly good in small swell, but experts only! Follow the reef north to find One Eye, the island’s most famous spot. Very, very fast, hollow, powerful and long. The perfect wave .to watch! The shallow, razor-sharp reef doesn’t forgive mistakes – and the wind’s cross-offshore. Reached via the Grand Pass or the small channel in front of the Berjaya Hotel, it should only be attempted at high tide. The last section belongs to the surfers. There’s a dedicated teaching spot around the headland and away from the crowds at Kite Lagoon, where onshore winds and standing-depth water make it feel even safer. If that gets too busy, La Prairie is an option. Watch out for the odd coral head at both spots and do consider wearing boots. Following the tortuous coastroad east, a massive left-hander breaks in the estuary mouth in southerly swells. Baie du Cap has a very strong current and is regarded as particularly sharky; you definitely want a boat for back-up safety here! When the wind’s too easterly for Le Morne, the lagoon of Riambel, Pomponnette is an option. It only works at high tide though, and watch out for coral and sea urchins! Conditions ease up beyond Blue Bay – the private beach of Hotel Shandrani guarantees exclusivity and offshore on Blue Bay Reef only the honeymooners on Ile aux deux Cocos might watch through their binoculars. Point d'Esny has particularly clear water in the island’s largest lagoon, a freerider’s dream. It’s hard to stay upwind by Ile aux Aigrettes though, as the wind and current both push in the same direction. Belle Mare is another all-rounder – Belle Mare Lagoon is ideal for beginners with its standing-depth area, while a challenging right-hander breaks on Bella Mare Reef outside. On the whole the SE trades blow a little weaker on the east coast as they hit the island more onshore and there are no mountains inland to accelerate them. The trades are offshore on the west coast, so the breaks are best suited to surfing – although occasional southerly winds allow kiting or windsurfing. You’ll need a boat for Ile aux Bénitiers but at least you can throw a couple of sundowners and a barbeque in too. Follow the rough tracks past the saltpans to Les Salines, being so hard to find it’s still a 'secret’ spot – as is the fast, hollow reef-break at Petite Rivière Noire. Launch from the beach near the old lighthouse to reach both, but don’t go out to the break alone: it’s 1km offshore on a shallow reef and only works at high tide! The road north passes world-class surf breaks like Tamarin and leads through the whirling capital Port Louis to Grand Baie, the Mauritian Côte D’Azur, beyond which good conditions return on the northern point. Off Cap Malheureux in front of the landmark red-roofed chapel there’s room for a few reaches between the islets in idyllic surroundings. About a kilometre east Anse la Raie offers two breaks, Yachya and Panic – ask the locals which reef pass has the best waves, on which tide, and for exact directions.