St Ouens Bay (La Moye)
- Wave, Shortboard
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Chop, Ocean
- Spot Type
- Busy
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
St Ouens Bay (La Moye) is a long, west-coast sandy beach area on Jersey where surf and wind sports are concentrated across multiple breaks. Surfing conditions can be exposed and dynamic, with both left and right waves along the shoreline and a setup that can pick up Atlantic swell. The bay’s hazards are significant: rocks/reefs (especially toward the southern end near La Moye) and strong tidal currents are repeatedly noted, along with dangerous rip currents. Access and safety planning can change quickly because Jersey has one of the largest tidal ranges in the world—high tide can restrict the launch/beach area via sea wall and rocky sections. Surfing is described as working best with east winds for cleaner conditions, while swell is most favorable from the west to southwest. One source emphasizes that the most powerful waves can show up at Watersplash during swell, while another notes that very large swells can become heavy and close out. Beyond surfing, the same bay is used for kitesurfing (often on cross-shore winds), windsurfing (wave and freeride styles when swell is up and wind is cross-shore), and wingfoiling (particularly mid-to-high tide with care on depth over rocky sections). Overall, the area is best approached with careful tide-checking, appropriate exposure/entry planning, and cold-water readiness.
- Multiple surf breaks along a long five-mile stretch
- East winds described as best/clean offshore for surf
- Large tidal range strongly affects access and conditions
- Kitesurfing, windsurfing, and wingfoiling are all supported
- A central, well-known surfing hub on Jersey’s west coast
- Multiple breaks along a long sandy stretch with both left and right waves
- Atlantic swell can make the spot pick up consistently
- Supports not just surfing, but also kitesurfing, windsurfing, and wingfoiling
- Dangerous rip currents and strong tidal currents
- Rocks and reef hazards, especially toward the southern end
- Very large tidal range changes access and conditions substantially
- Wind can be unreliable at times
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, ESE, ENE
- Offshore directions
- E
- Wind Range
- 10–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Frontal systems are a primary wind driver for the area.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts
- Best Months
- January, February, March
- Shadow Zones
- Some shelter at the far southern end from high cliffs (at high tide).
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Chop, Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sand is described in physical guides; mixed composition is also reported in general.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Small — One guide describes small surf in general; another reports medium waves and gives an optimal swell window of 1–2.5 meters.
- Chop Level
- Heavy chop
- Launch
- Medium — Wide sandy beach at low tide; restricted by sea wall and rocks at high tide.
Through the year
Busy during summer months and weekends; relatively quiet in winter.
Late autumn and winter see frequent frontal systems and higher rainfall.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Cross-shore winds can make the bay a large playground for kitesurfing; the southern end requires caution due to nearby rocks and reefs.
- Kite Sizes
- 7–12 m²
Popular for wave sailing when swell is up and the wind is cross-shore; the large tidal range creates different conditions through the day.
- Sail Sizes
- 4.5–6 m²
Suitable especially around mid-to-high tide; caution is required over rocky sections at the southern end.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes
- Min Depth
- 2 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
A reasonably exposed beach break that picks up Atlantic swell. It offers both left and right waves and works in different ways along the 5-mile stretch.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- W, WSW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low, All tides — Sources differ: one guide highlights low tide, while another describes all-tides working (with conditions varying by tide).
- Shelter
- Exposed
- Wind Effect
- East winds provide clean/offshore conditions; east wind is described as best.
- Bigger Swell
- Watersplash is noted for the most powerful waves during any swell; on very large swells it can become heavy and close out (southern end may hold shape better).
- Wave Quality
- Good
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Mixed — Mixed shape in general; elsewhere noted as peeling with more defined peaks on the rockier southern sections.
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — Ride length can be around 50–150 meters depending on the banks; a typical figure reported is about 100 meters.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Can be longer depending on banks; reported range includes 50–150 meters.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for St Ouens Bay (La Moye) in the full forecast view.
St Ouens Bay (La Moye) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 4–32 ktsGusts 47 kts
- Direction
- SW236°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2432 kts
- Windy days
- 5/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.8–4.6 m9s period
- Temperature
- 13–18 °C
Over the next 7 days, St Ouens Bay (La Moye) is forecast for daytime winds of 4–32 kts, peaking around 32 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 47 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.8–4.6 m with a period of about 9s. 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
- dangerous rip currents
- strong tidal currents
- rip currents common
- rocks
- large tidal range
- cold water
- rocks and reefs especially at the southern end near La Moye
- restricted access at high tide due to sea wall and rocks
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited
- Emergency Info
- Jersey Coastguard handles maritime emergencies.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild
Rules of the spot
During summer months, be aware of designated surfing and swimming zones.
- Seasonal lifeguard zones
- Dog restrictions on beach during summer
- Dangerous rips are a hazard here.
- Always check tide tables—Jersey has a very large tidal range.
- The southern end near La Moye gets rocky quickly as the tide drops.
- Beginners are advised to focus their efforts on Le Braye during overhead swell conditions.
- Experienced surfers should try Watersplash and spots further north.
- Neap tides allow surfing from low to high tide at spots in the centre of St Ouen's Bay.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- St Ouen
- Nearest Town
- St Ouen
- Parking
- Various public car parks and slipways along the bay, including areas near the southern end.
- Access
- Accessible via local roads to St Ouen's Bay; also via the Five Mile Road (B26) along the length of the bay.
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Various guest houses and campsites in the St Ouen and St Peter areas.
- Food & Drink
- Watersplash is described as an iconic surf bar and restaurant located centrally in the bay.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is available through major surf schools along the beach.
- Gear Storage
- Available at some local surf schools.
- Gear Repair
- Local surf shops offer board repair services.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
An iconic lighthouse perched on a rock at the extreme southwestern point, accessible by a causeway at low tide.
An underground hospital complex built during the German occupation of the island in WWII.
Cliffs around La Moye offer spectacular trails with views over the Atlantic.
A popular beachside venue for surfers and locals overlooking the western sands.
A sheltered, south-facing beach ideal for families with golden sand and calm water.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at St Ouens Bay (La Moye)?
The best overall months at St Ouens Bay (La Moye) are April, October, November. The best wind months are January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at St Ouens Bay (La Moye)?
St Ouens Bay (La Moye) works with E, ESE, ENE winds. Offshore directions are E.
What equipment sizes are recommended at St Ouens Bay (La Moye)?
Recommended equipment sizes at St Ouens Bay (La Moye): Kitesurfing: 7–12 m² · Windsurfing: 4.5–6 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 10–25 kts.
What skill level is St Ouens Bay (La Moye) suitable for?
St Ouens Bay (La Moye) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner to Intermediate.