Best time to kitesurf Fontanamare

The best time to kitesurf at Fontanamare is January–May, October–December, with about 4 windy days a month (15+ knots) and water around 17°C.

Gonnesa, Sardinia, Italy

Sports: Kitesurfing, Windsurfing, Surfing

Best time to go: January–May, October–December

Fontanamare (Funtanamare in Sardinian) is the northern part of the Marina di Gonnesa, about 4 km of soft sand on the south-west coast of Sardinia, between the Porto Paglia tuna fishery in the south and the old mining village of Fontanamare in the north. Fossil dunes covered in vegetation and limestone cliffs frame the beach, and the Sa Masa marsh lies just behind it. From Cagliari, about 55 km away, take the SS130 towards Iglesias, turn onto the SS126 a few kilometres before Iglesias and follow the signs to Fontanamare, about 10 km. There is a car park by the beach, a snack bar on the sand and a restaurant nearby.

Unlike the sheltered Golfo di Palmas further south, this beach faces the open sea to the west, with no rocky shelter for hundreds of metres, and it is the wave spot of the area. The north-west Mistral (maestrale) blows side-onshore and builds waves fast: local riders say 20 knots of Mistral can bring waves of 2 to 3 m. West winds (ponente) work well too, and south-west winds (libeccio) can work. The wave season for kiting and windsurfing runs from about October to May. Surfers come all year when a west to north-west swell arrives, best with a light east or south-east wind blowing offshore, and the beach has several peaks with lefts and rights. The bottom is mostly sand, but there are rocks close to the shore and further out, about 100 m off the beach, which help shape the waves.

Fontanamare is for intermediate and advanced riders: the currents along this exposed beach are strong, the waves get big quickly and there are rocks near the shore. No lessons are given here; beginners go to Punta Trettu, about 20 km to the south. In summer the beach is very busy and kiting is only tolerated on strong wind days, well away from swimmers. The water is about 14 to 15 °C in late winter and 26 °C in August: wear a 4/3 in winter and a 3/2 in autumn and spring.

Month by month at Fontanamare

January: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 15°C, air 15°C (nights 9°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 27 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 11; a day can have both
February: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 15°C, air 16°C (nights 9°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 25 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 10; a day can have both
March: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 15°C, air 17°C (nights 10°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 28 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 12; a day can have both
April: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 16°C, air 20°C (nights 12°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 28 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 7; a day can have both
May: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 19°C, air 23°C (nights 15°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 29 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 9; a day can have both
June: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 0.8 m, water 23°C, air 30°C (nights 21°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 2; a day can have both
July: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 25°C, air 33°C (nights 23°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 31 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 1; a day can have both
August: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 0.6 m, water 26°C, air 32°C (nights 23°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 31 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 2; a day can have both
September: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 0.8 m, water 25°C, air 29°C (nights 21°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 29 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 6; a day can have both
October: 3 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 1 m, water 23°C, air 25°C (nights 17°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 8; a day can have both
November: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 20°C, air 20°C (nights 13°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 26 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 13; a day can have both
December: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 1.4 m, water 17°C, air 17°C (nights 10°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 25 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 12; a day can have both