Tarifa has long been a famed destination for windsurfing and more recently kitesurfing. This is due to its geographical location on Spain’s most southerly tip just west of Gibraltar on the Costa de la Luz (Coast of Light). The beaches to the west of Tarifa are fully exposed to the Atlantic Ocean. Africa, 20 miles away across the straits affords them no protection from the prevailing winds. The Poniente, a westerly blows in off the Atlantic and the Levante, an easterly blows from the Mediterranean out through the Straits of Gibraltar. The winds accelerate as they are funnelled through the Strait of Gibraltar between the continents of Africa and Europe. The result is pretty much consistently good sailing conditions. The Levante tends to be cross-shore to cross-offshore resulting in flat water planing conditions while the Poniente is generally always cross onshore and can produce some interesting wave riding conditions.
The main sailing beaches sit to the west of Tarifa town along a stretch of sandy coastline about 10km long. It’s not an exact science but the general rule of thumb is the further west you travel the greater the reduction in wind speed. Believe me when the Levante is pushing force 8 a reduction can be quite a good thing. Valdevaqueros at the far end of this stretch of coast is one of the most popular of Tarifa’s beaches possibly because it is slightly more sheltered. Bolonia, a short distance further up the coast, also offers good sailing conditions and a much quieter and more attractive beach.