Wimereux — Côte d'Opale

Wimereux, the Côte d'Opale's emblematic city spot: south-westerly waves in front of a Belle Époque promenade, five kilometres north of Boulogne. A spot ridden 'on a window' — the range is such (nearly 8 metres) that the beach literally disappears at high tide, the sea breaking against the dyke.

Wimereux is the Côte d'Opale's city spot par excellence: a Belle Époque promenade dyke, shops in town, and south-westerly waves that make it a favourite of riders from the North of France, Belgium and Germany. But it's a constrained spot, wholly tide-dependent. The reference port is Boulogne, one of the coast's biggest ranges: a mean amplitude of about 8 metres, up to nearly 8.80 m at springs. The radical upshot: the spot is ridden only from low to mid tide, roughly three hours around low water. At high tide the beach all but disappears and the waves break onto the dyke, creating a very dangerous shorebreak, especially on a west-to-south-west wind. At low tide a rock ledge uncovers offshore: the Tourne bank, which bears the ruins of the Fort de Croÿ, an 18th-century tower of which only foundations remain, merging with the rocks; rocky areas also close off both ends of the beach (Fort de la Crèche to the south). The tidal current is significant — always watch your drift. For wind, the hazard is the north-east to south-east offshore, forbidden. In summer, the guides report a restriction (no kiting before 7 pm in July–August) and a supervised bathing zone — to be taken as conditional, since the municipal bylaw couldn't be found. A magnificent spot you have to earn, eyes on the tide and on your drift.