• ABOUT THE SPOT

Wind Surfing in Porto da Cruz, Machico, Madeira Portugal

Maximum swell size:
2 to 3m (6.5-10ft)
Wind blow:
onshore
If you need a dose of romance, then you should watch "Gone with the wind". If you need more sense, more information, you should surf in the internet. But if you want to come face to face with the adrenaline, then windsurf is your pill. Τhe component of surfing and sailing is your therapy. And if you try to find a right place, then visit Porto da Cruz.

It’s located at the northeastern corner of Madeira, the Portuguese island, in the municipality of Machico. In this place you’ll feel that life has stopped. You should taste ‘vinho seco americano’, a local dry red wine made of ‘americana’, which is a type of grape. Follow the steam that is coming out and you will find a 26 m/85 ft height tower. But don’t be confused, you don’t find Rapunzel, only sugar cane. It’s an old factory since 1927 and it’s still working in the same way. Feel like a bird, or sing with them by getting on Penha d’ Aguia, an imperial rock that separates Porto da Cruz from Faial, a civil parish in the municipality of Santana, in Madeira.

But, let’s come back to your therapy. In Porto da Cruz beach, the reef-rocky waves are normal. The swell size starts working at less than 1 m (3 ft) and holds up to 2.5 m+ (8 ft+). The north and south is the best wind direction, and for swell the north direction. In autumn, the waves swell size is from 1.3 to 3 m (4-10 ft) and the wind blows onshore at 60%. In spring, we have the same swell size as in autumn and the wind blows onshore 62%. In winter, most of the time the waves are from 2 to 3 m (6.5-10 ft) and the wind blows onshore at 47%. In summer the waves swell size is from 1.3 to 2 m (4-6.5 ft) and the wind blows onshore at 80%.

There is a windsurf school at your disposal, in case you need an expert for assistance. There are other activities that you can do on your spare time and lots of accommodation options. Windsurf lovers…don’t forget your prescription.