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 waves here are usually smaller than Gowlane, which can be a relief! Best between mid and high tide. At low tide the remains of a shipwreck can expose to the left of the little stream, but stay to the right and you’ll be fine.

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.

When strong north-westerlies push waves across Kiel Bay, Heiligenhafen rivals 'Altenteil' for Fehmarn’s wave crown. In west to west-south-westerly winds, the waves are cleaner but much smaller. Although if that follows a strong south-westerly that’s blown water out of Hohwachter Bay, the sandbanks by the point can run dry.

To unearth Peru’s treasures follow the Pan-American Highway north from Lima, mainly threading inland with the occasional spectacular glimpse of the Pacific. At Km 572 is Huanchaco, where they still make the traditional 'totora’ boats today. Good waves can almost always be found on the impressive point-break – and with a bit of luck, enough wind too. If not the 'adobe’ clay cities of Chan Chan, capital of the kingdom of Chimú, are well worth a visit anyway. The wind potential rises noticeably further north. Milagro is a lonely spot with unusual cross-onshore conditions, while the point of Chicama genuinely claims the world’s longest wave. The wind’s very gusty and the waves rarely bigger than 2.5m, but rides up to 1.5km are possible in a good swell! Despite this insane wave Chicama remains a dusty forgotten town – unlike the area’s hotspot, Pacasmayo. It’s a well-developed place so provides a good place to stay. Surfers get in at 'El Faro' lighthouse, kiters and windsurfers a little further downwind. Even small swells deliver good waves, and the wind builds to 12-20 knots in the afternoons too (S is cross to cross-off). In big winter swells (Apr-Jul) mast-high, kilometre-long rides are possible. In N swell the waves are shorter but still pack plenty of punch. If there’s neither waves nor wind on the Pacific, Peru’s second largest dammed reservoir at 400,000,000m³ Represa Gallito Ciego offers flat freshwater and a reliable 15-25 knot thermal on the north bank. Back on the coast, urban Chiclayo Pimentel has a fun beach-break that works best when the swell’s not too big. Further north it’s worth a detour off-road to the remote world-class waves of Nunura. Unfortunately it doesn’t work as well since they started farming Jacob’s mussels here, but there’s camping nearby at Bayóvar. In contrast, the endless sandy beach of Colan is a gentle beginner’s venue with almost onshore wind. In Piura Province, almost as many outstanding breaks line the coast as offshore oilrigs. The point-break Negritos on the northern edge of Punta Parinas is rarely visited. Access is via Talara, where an A-frame breaks over sand. Mornings are still and afternoons windy. Baterias is an option in south-easterly wind, but the area’s real highlight is Lobitos – the spectacularly powerful, long, super-quick left-hander up to 3m with cross-offshore wind that stars in the Cabrinha video 'Catalyst’. Originally a US military base in the Second World War, the little village is still inhabited by Peruvians today but parts of it are like a dusty scene from a spaghetti western: deserted buildings, howling wind, burning sun and vultures circling overhead. Tres Cruces is a wonderful beach with similar conditions, even if the waves aren’t quite as long. The point-break south of the fishing village El Nuro also gets good winds, while Los Organos ('The Organ Pipes’) was named after the sound of the wind blowing over the cliffs. Kiters can start a downwinder from the village, passing the white sandy beach of Vichayito and natural reef-pools at Pocitas Beach to finish round Mancora Point. An average day here delivers shoulder-high waves, and it soon gets busy. With 4,500 inhabitants, the village makes a good base for exploring the north – and with relaxed beach life, shops, restaurants and a chill-out bar it’s also great for non-surfers. 2km from the point there’s flat water in a Lagoon that’s sheltered from open ocean by dunes.