Clotilde Cangemi (Cogoleto)

Surfing
Advanced riders
Best for
Expert
Skill Level
Swell
Spot Type
Empty
Crowd Level

This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.

About this spot

About

Clotilde Cangemi (Cogoleto) is an exposed right-hand point break in Liguria that’s primarily for expert surfers. It wraps around a rocky outcrop and, when the swell connects, produces fast, hollow, powerful waves with generally good quality. Wave performance is described as strongest with swells around 1.0–1.5m that can build to about 2.5m+ (and up to ~3m in one dataset). It’s most often cited as working when the swell comes from the northwest, west, or southwest, and when winds are from the east to northeast. With northern winds grooming the face, the wave can barrel; with south-side onshore conditions it can become unrideable. Access is technical: entry/exit can be difficult from the rocky point, and the bottom is shallow rock/reef with sharp hazards plus shoreline breakwater features. During larger swells, strong rip currents are reported, making the session substantially more hazardous than typical reef/point setups. Safety and crowd expectations are a key part of the spot. Hazard reporting emphasizes rocks and water pollution risk, and local priority/localism is described as heavy and sometimes strict. Crowd notes are described as empty on both weekdays and weekends in at least one source, but the spot is still treated as a pros-only / kamikaze-only wave by multiple datasets. No lifeguards/rescue coverage is reported for this spot, so timing your entry between sets and checking conditions after heavy rain is strongly recommended.

  • Hollow, fast right-hand point break
  • Best with east to northeast winds and NW/W/SW swell windows
  • Short-to-medium rides; can lengthen when connected
Great for
Advanced riders
What's great
  • High-quality hollow, fast right-hand point break when it works
  • Offshore northern winds can groom the wave face
  • Short-to-medium rides available depending on swell setup
Heads up
  • Expert-only due to sharp rocks, shallow/rocky take-off areas, and strong currents on larger swells
  • Pollution risk is flagged
  • Waves can be unreliable without the right swell/wind connection
  • No rescue/lifeguard coverage reported
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Practical spot guide

Wind, water and seasons

Wind

Direction
E, ENE
Offshore directions
N, NE, NW
Wind Type
Frontal — Wind described as frontal; wind face-off varies by system.
Reliability
low
Best Months
January, February, March, October, November, December
Shadow Zones
Exposed to most winds; northern offshore winds can groom the face.

Water & beach

Water Type
Swell
Beach
Rocks — Rocky outcrop/point break surroundings.
Beach Size
Small
Waves
Small — Works from about 1.0–1.5m and can hold to 2.5m+; another dataset describes medium waves as well.
Launch
Small — Difficult entry from the rocky point or via a small channel between rocks.
Launch Difficulty
Expert only — Difficult launch/entry from rocks.

Through the year

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best seasonOff-season
Wetsuit Guide
Jan–Dec: 5/4mm + Boots, GlovesApr–Oct: 3/2mmJun–Nov: swimwear
Crowds by Season

High crowds during good winter swells, particularly on weekends; can be empty during the week.

Storm/Rain Season

Late October through December is described as the rainiest/most storm-prone period.

By sport

What to expect for each.

SurfingBest for this spotSkill Level

Exposed right-hand point break wrapping around a rocky outcrop. When conditions line up, it delivers fast, hollow, powerful waves—an expert-only wave with technical access and sharp hazards.

Point break
Wave Direction
Right
Optimal Swell
NW, W, SW
Swell Height
1–3 m
Optimal Tide
Mid — Mid tide; also described as working from mid through high tide.
Shelter
Exposed — Open/exposed point.
Wind Effect
Best with east to northeast winds for rideable conditions; offshore northern winds can groom the face. South-onshore conditions make the wave unrideable.
Bigger Swell
Handles significant size well; can become heavy and expert-only with barreling sections.
Wave Quality
Good — Wave quality described as good; reliability depends on swell/wind connection.
Wave Power
Powerful — Powerful hollow waves when swell connects.
Wave Shape
Hollow — Hollow right-hand point wave over rock.
Peel Speed
Fast — Fast, hollow sections.
Ride Length
Short — Short under smaller conditions; can lengthen substantially when the swell period/direction connects.
Typical Ride Length
50–150 m
Ride Length Details
Short (< 50m) in some sources; another source reports typical rides around 50–150m (often ~80m).
Forecast

Check the forecast before you go

See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Clotilde Cangemi (Cogoleto) in the full forecast view.

Clotilde Cangemi (Cogoleto) wind and wave forecast summary

Wind
2–11 ktsGusts 20 kts
Direction
N351°
Strongest day
Sat, Oct 2411 kts
Windy days
0/712 kts or more
Waves
0.1–0.9 m4s period
Temperature
12–20 °C

Over the next 7 days, Clotilde Cangemi (Cogoleto) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–11 kts, peaking around 11 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 20 kts. The prevailing direction is N. Waves run 0.1–0.9 m with a period of about 4s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.

Nearby

Other spots in the area

Safety

What to know before you launch

Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.

Hazards

  • Rocks
  • Sharp rocks
  • Strong rip currents (especially on large swells)
  • Water pollution risk
  • Difficult entry/exit
Ability Level: Expert
Recommended Safety Gear
WetsuitBoots

Rescue & support

Lifeguard
None — No lifeguards reported.
Rescue & Self-Rescue
No — Rescue availability is reported as none.
Emergency Info
Nearest hospital is Ospedale Colletta di Arenzano.
Localism / Vibe
Heavy — Local priority is described as strict.

Rules of the spot

Strict lineup priority/local conduct is often enforced; wait your turn.

Restrictions
  • Not recommended for beginners due to extreme safety risks (technical entry, sharp hazards, strong currents, and pollution risk).
Local Tips
  • Time your entry between sets to avoid being pushed toward the breakwater rocks.
  • Check local environmental/pollution reports after heavy rain due to nearby industrial-site history.

Getting there & access

Nearest City
Cogoleto
Nearest Town
Cogoleto
Parking
Parking available at Piazzale Clotilde Cangemi (directly above the break near the football stadium) / access by car mentioned.
Access
On the west side of Cogoleto, on the seaside of the football field; instant access (<5min walking distance).
Cost Level
Moderate
Local Language
Italian
Amenities

What's on the beach

Parking
Accommodation
Nearby town — Hotels, guest houses, and apartments available in Cogoleto and Arenzano.
Food & Drink
Numerous bars, pizzerias, and restaurants within walking distance in the town center.
Equipment Rental:
Sport/equipment rental mentioned in the broader Cogoleto coast context and by local-club references, but spot-specific rental shops are not listed here.
Learn, rent & more

Schools & services

No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.

Reviews

From riders who've been here

Community observations

Latest reported conditions

Spot questions

Frequently asked questions

When is the best season at Clotilde Cangemi (Cogoleto)?

The best overall months at Clotilde Cangemi (Cogoleto) are October, November, January, February, March. The best wind months are January, February, March, October, November, December.

Which wind directions work at Clotilde Cangemi (Cogoleto)?

Clotilde Cangemi (Cogoleto) works with E, ENE winds. Offshore directions are N, NE, NW.

What skill level is Clotilde Cangemi (Cogoleto) suitable for?

Clotilde Cangemi (Cogoleto) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Expert.