Collignon (Cherbourg)
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Chop, Small waves, Mixed
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Collignon (Cherbourg) is a medium-sized sandy beach on the eastern side of the Cherbourg harbor, with strong shelter/exposure effects driven by the tides and the harbor wall/mole. For wind sports it’s a convenient local choice, with riding conditions that can be flat to choppy depending on wind direction, and it’s described as beginner-friendly for kitesurfing, windsurfing, and wingfoiling. For surfing, the spot is notably uncommon: it’s an exposed beach-break that only becomes surfable on rare, massive Atlantic swells that wrap into the bay/harbor area (reported around 5 days per year). When it works, it’s typically best at mid tide with a rising tide, and for north/northwest/west swells. Reports also highlight a short, quickly losing-power wave pattern and limited ride lengths, with wave quality described as poor to average. Safety planning is important. A breakwater/mole to the east creates hazards and can generate wind shadow and turbulence near the structure, especially if you get too close on certain directions. Pollution is specifically flagged as a known hazard, and swimmers are noted in summer, so you’ll want to follow seasonal activity/launch-zone rules and confirm conditions before entering the water. Seasonally, the broader timing differs by sport: winter is the main window for the rare surf days, while spring and summer are presented as the best period for wind sports. Water temperatures are cold in late February (about 6–10°C reported in one dataset) and peak around mid-August (roughly 16–19°C), so wetsuit choice should match the month you’re visiting.
- Kitesurfing/wingfoiling/foiling progression in East and North-East wind windows
- Surfing is rare and swell-dependent (massive swells needed)
- Harbor mole/tide effects strongly influence usable beach width and safety
- Versatile beach for multiple wind/water sports, especially kitesurfing and wingfoiling in East/North-East windows.
- Sandy bottom and progression-friendly conditions for beginners (wind sports).
- Mid tide + rising tide positioning is repeatedly cited for the rare surfing days.
- Rare surf; only works on massive swells (reported ~5 days/year).
- Pollution is a known hazard; avoid direct contact when visibly polluted.
- Mole/breakwater creates wind shadow/turbulence and hazards near the harbor edge.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- SE, S, SW, NE, N, NW, NNE, E
- Offshore directions
- S, SW, SE
- Wind Range
- 12–25 kts
- Reliability
- Good reliability for thermal winds in summer and frontal systems in winter (regionally).
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Light-gusts reported; also noted that South-West/South can become gusty and shadowed.
- Best Months
- February
- Shadow Zones
- South-West and South winds are often gusty and shadowed by buildings/topography.
- Thermal Window
- Sea breeze · Afternoon · Dir: NNE, NE, E, ENE
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Chop, Small waves, Mixed
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Small — Surfable waves are small in general conditions; surf requires massive swells to wrap in.
- Chop Level
- Heavy chop — Chop reported generally; can be flat depending on wind direction for wind sports.
- Launch
- Medium — Sandy launch area; can narrow at high tide.
Through the year
Busy on sunny summer weekends; quiet on weekdays and during winter.
Autumn and winter bring more frequent rain and stronger frontal storms.
By sport
What to expect for each.
A very popular and safe option for progression, with flat water in East/South-East winds and small waves/chop in North-West winds. Summer restrictions apply due to swimming zones, and the beach can become wind-turbulent near the mole if you get too close.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Excellent freeride/slalom conditions in steady North-East winds.
- Sail Sizes
- 5.5–7.5 m²
Highly suitable due to the sandy bottom and harbor-wall protection, creating flat water ideal for progression.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes
- Min Depth
- Safe for foils after a short walk out from the shoreline
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Rare, exposed beach-break surfing that only works during massive Atlantic swells that wrap into the harbor/bay area (reported ~5 days/year). Best at mid tide with a rising tide and for north/northwest/west swells; offers right-and-left waves. Wave quality is described as poor/average and waves lose power quickly once inside the bay.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- N, NW, W
- Swell Height
- 2.5–3 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Mid tide, rising tide noted as best positioning.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Exposed beach break overall, but the harbor/breakwater influence can allow occasional wrapping waves; conditions are still described as sheltered only to a limited degree once waves enter the bay.
- Wind Effect
- Works best with offshore winds from the south/southwest; surfing works best when winds are aligned for offshore conditions.
- Bigger Swell
- Needs large swells to wrap around the breakwater and reach the beach; holds up to about 2.5 m+ (8 ft+).
- Wave Quality
- Average — Also described as poor by some surf reporting; overall presented as limited/rare and not consistently high quality.
- Wave Power
- Soft — Soft/low-power waves when they manage to wrap into the bay.
- Wave Shape
- Mixed — Mixed character; short, quickly losing power once inside the bay.
- Peel Speed
- Slow
- Ride Length
- Short — Short rides; also reported as typically under 50 m in length.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Good day length reported as 50–150 m (with typically short waves overall); two peaks are described (one along the jetty and another ~100 m to the right).
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Collignon (Cherbourg) in the full forecast view.
Collignon (Cherbourg) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–24 ktsGusts 42 kts
- Direction
- SW232°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2424 kts
- Windy days
- 4/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.1–1.8 m5s period
- Temperature
- 8–17 °C
Over the next 7 days, Collignon (Cherbourg) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–24 kts, peaking around 24 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 42 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.1–1.8 m with a period of about 5s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
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
- Pollution
- Mole (breakwater) to the east
- Rocks at low tide near the harbor wall
- Swimmers in summer
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited
- Emergency Info
- Nearest hospital is in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin; sea rescue is managed by the SNSM station in Cherbourg (limited rescue availability).
Rules of the spot
Designated zones for different nautical activities during the summer season; kiting is usually restricted to the eastern end of the beach.
- Kiting restricted in swimming zones during July and August
- Check the tide: the beach can become very narrow at high tide.
- The mole creates wind shadow/turbulence if you get too close on certain directions.
- Avoid direct contact with water when visibly polluted.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
- Nearest Town
- Tourlaville
- Parking
- Large free parking lot directly adjacent to the beach and nautical center.
- Public Transport
- Served by the Cap Cotentin bus network; Cherbourg is connected to Paris by a direct Intercités train line
- Access
- From Cherbourg: go east past Tourlaville on the coastal road; turn right when you see “Collignon”. Access is at the right extremity of Cherbourg’s harbor area east of the east mole of the rade. GPS: 49.657N 1.570O.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- French
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Various hotels and guesthouses are available in Cherbourg and Tourlaville; camping is available nearby.
- Food & Drink
- Restaurant and snack bar at the nautical center and beach area.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment for windsurfing, kayaking, and SUP is available at the nautical center.
- Gear Storage
- Storage is primarily for members and school participants at the nautical center.
- Gear Repair
- Minor repairs can sometimes be handled by the local nautical center or shops in Cherbourg.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Collignon (Cherbourg)?
The best overall months at Collignon (Cherbourg) are February, April, May, June, July, August, September. The best wind months are February.
Which wind directions work at Collignon (Cherbourg)?
Collignon (Cherbourg) works with SE, S, SW, NE, N, NW, NNE, E winds. Offshore directions are S, SW, SE.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Collignon (Cherbourg)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Collignon (Cherbourg): Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Windsurfing: 5.5–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–25 kts.
What skill level is Collignon (Cherbourg) suitable for?
Collignon (Cherbourg) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner · Windsurfing: Beginner · Wingfoiling: Beginner · Surfing: Intermediate.