Live wind — Sakalava Bay
Windguru, Windy, Windfinder, MeteoBlue... every weather source on a single page, at 12.27°S / 49.39°E.
Windguru live forecast
The Varatraza trade wind is one of the most reliable in the world. Once GFS and ECMWF agree, the day is rideable.
Real-time wind — Windy
Live ECMWF & GFS map: the wind here blows from the NE, strengthened by the Ampasindava peninsula relief.
Windfinder hourly table
Hourly wind, gusts, waves and tides for Sakalava Bay, updated every 10 minutes.
1 kt ≈ 1.15 mph · 15 kt ≈ 28 km/h · 20 kt ≈ 37 km/h · 25 kt ≈ 46 km/h
Compare with other stations
The rider ritual at Sakalava: cross at least two models before pumping up. Here are the reference sources.
Windguru
The kiter standard. GFS, ICON, ECMWF and WRF in one table, with confidence index and archives.
Open Windguru →Windfinder
Detailed hourly forecast for Sakalava Bay: wind, gusts, swell and tides. Its widget is embedded above.
Open Windfinder →Windy.com
The world weather map: wind, waves, rain and temperature layers, readable at the exact lagoon point.
Open Windy →Windy.app
The kiter community app: dedicated spots (Sakalava, Emerald Sea), wind alerts and hourly history.
Open Windy.app →MeteoBlue
High-res meteograms (PICASSO, NEMS, ECMWF) up to 10 days: upper wind, precipitation, cloud layers.
Open MeteoBlue →Météo France
Météo-France La Réunion's CMRS issues the official cyclone bulletins and alerts for the south-west Indian Ocean.
Open Météo France →Read forecasts like a pro
Cross-check 2+ models
GFS and ECMWF are the most reliable 4–5 days out. When they agree on a NE direction above 15 kt, the session is on.
Think side-onshore
At Sakalava, the NE wind always blows back to the beach. N to NNE winds onshore even more: perfect and safe.
Gusts & speed
Expect +5 to +8 kt gusts above average wind. 12–22 kt ideal to start, 20–35 kt for freeride and kite loops.
The seasonal Varatraza
From April to November, this trade wind builds in late morning and holds until sunset. Always check local time (UTC+3).
Tides & water level
The lagoon stays rideable at low tide thanks to the sandy bottom. At high tide the surface is bigger: perfect for learning.
Storm & cyclone watch
From December to February, follow Météo France alerts. Never ride as a squall line approaches.
Match your kite size to the wind of the day
The same wind strength does not suit everyone: your size and level completely change the kite choice. Here is a simple reading grid for Sakalava Bay.
| Wind | 70 kg | 85 kg | 100 kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-15 kt | 12 m² | 13-14 m² | 15 m² |
| 18-22 kt | 9-10 m² | 10-11 m² | 12 m² |
| 25-30 kt | 7-8 m² | 8-9 m² | 9-10 m² |
| 30-35+ kt | 5-7 m² | 7 m² | 8 m² |
These ranges are indicative; the full details are in our kite size guide for Madagascar. On site, the gear provided for lessons is matched to the wind of the day: you never choose alone.
Frequently asked wind questions at Sakalava
From how many knots can you kitesurf?
You can start riding from about 12-15 knots with a kite suited to your size. For beginners in a learning setting, 15 to 20 knots is generally perfect.
Does the wind blow all day?
In season, the Varatraza picks up in the late morning and usually holds until sunset. The ideal window is often between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
What are the best forecast sources?
Windguru (GFS, ICON, ECMWF), Windy and Windfinder are the most used by riders. Cross at least two models the day before: this page brings all these sources together.
To plan your week around the wind, read our guide to the best time to kite and the Varatraza weather month by month.
Choosing your kite of the day
Not too big, not too small: here is the simple method our instructors use every morning at Sakalava Bay.
1. Read the wind
Look at the average strength at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., not the morning peak. Cross two models: the gap between Windguru and Windy is your confidence indicator.
2. Estimate your level
A beginner picks a kite 1 to 2 m² smaller for the waterstart; a light rider (70 kg) drops one size compared to an 85 kg profile.
3. Stay in the middle
Take the size that fits the upper half of the wind range. You overpower 5 to 10% of the time: sheeting out and returning to the water is natural at the spot.
For the full list of sizes per profile, see the kite size guide and the Varatraza weather.
Verify on the spot before pumping
Watch the wind line on the water
Dark patches moving on the lagoon surface show the gusts arriving. When the line is regular off the point, the forecast is usually right.
Compare with the beach kites
Check which kites the locals pump up: the whole community uses the same sources and the average size is your best indicator of actual strength.
Do not trust the morning peak
At Sakalava the wind builds from 1 p.m. A quiet morning says nothing about the afternoon. Always cross the forecast, not the early readings.