Iftane

Essaouira

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Sidi Abdellah is a great summertime hide-away as it blows 2 Forces less than Moulay. With cross-onshore wind, the waves even get a bit bigger – but no cleaner. The rocky backdrop doesn’t really endear it to kiters. Below the little fishing village of Bibah a small, partially standing-depth lagoon opens up behind a few rocks, offering freestyle conditions. To the left of the lagoon there’s access to open ocean. Until the early ’90s, Moulay Bouzerktoun was a blank spot on the map. No electricity or water, but loads of wind and perfect waves ridden by just a few adventurers. These days it’s one of the most renowned summer spots for European waveriders, sporting two waves over the reef plate. One breaks at the foot of the cliffs, the other further south at the actual 'beach’, which also serves as base-camp for campervans. The waves are best on a push tide, but don’t be too eager as towards low water there’s precious little depth and waist-deep holes in the reef lurking at the launch. Typical of this region, in high summer the waves generally stay small and are often pretty choppy due to the strong wind. Despite all this, Moulay is often completely packed with around 100 people. It’s better out of season when the swell regularly reaches mast-high. The sandy bay of Essaouira is mostly hosts easy freeride conditions. Near Fort Portugais in the south there’s a modest beach-break, but it rarely exceeds head-high – a great bolt-hole when the rest of the area’s too hardcore. The only drawback being that the prevailing northerly’s very gusty. But the local infrastructure makes up for this with kite and windsurf outfits offering kit and lessons, there are also beach cafés, camel rides. With swell on a flood tide, Taguinza has the area’s cleanest wave. It’s also where the wind starts first, and it blows up to 10 knots stronger than Moulay or Sidi Kaouki in the afternoon. The wind blows cross-off with ideal conditions for riding waves and boosting aerials, even if it is always a bit gusty. Sidi Kaouki also does Morocco proud with its 5km of sandy beach, powerful beach-break, and a reef-break in front of Hotel Marabout. It works best in smaller swell as bigger waves often close-out, especially at low tide – packing a spare mast isn’t a bad idea at high either. Kaouki is also a beautiful place to camp in the dunes. L'Oued is a reef-break in front of the rivermouth on the southern end of the beach. Even though it already works well in small swell, mistakes can be costly as both wind and current sweep straight towards the rocks. Reaching the bay behind the cliffs either demands a 4x4, or a downwinder – either way access to Secret Bay is awkward. That’s why this place keeps its name, even though its location’s well-known. The view from the rocky plateau nicely sums the place up: long sandy beach, turquoise water and sideshore winds. The paved road leads to Iftane in just a few minutes. Apart from a few fishing boats, most of the time you’ll have the place to yourself. The wind blows cross-on and a bit weaker than at Kaouki, but especially kiters should keep their distance from the rocks.
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Kite and Windsurfing Guide
Über die Teerstraße erreicht man in wenigen Minuten Iftane. Von ein paar Fischerbooten abgesehen, ist man hier aber meist allein unterwegs.
The paved road leads to Iftane in just a few minutes. Apart from a few fishing boats, most of the time you'll have the place to yourself.
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