Kitesurfing in Carro

Carro is renowned for the quality its waves and consistency of the wind. The spot is just 40 km from Marseille and when the conditions are good wave kiters from France’s second biggest city descend en masse. The waves and rocks make it a super-technical spot and off-limits to all but the best riders.

Watch this: Strapless performance in Carro

The kitesurfing

Carro is a small Mediterranean fishing village 12 km south of Martigues. There’s no beach, instead a rocky shelf extends for 400 m out to sea from the seafront. Swell generated by wind fetch hits the rock and kicks up some fast, steep waves up to 2 metres on a big day. The spot’s location at the far end of a rocky point also means that there’s some current to be aware of. A buoy marks the entrance to the harbour and makes a good marker when you’re tracking off-shore. When the conditions line up, the best kitesurfers can have an epic session.

Launching and landing a kite along the rocky shore is a precarious operation. It’s not just the rocks, you’ve also got a pretty gnarly shorebreak and sea urchins to contend with and you’ll want to make sure you’re wearing booties. There’s lots of free parking right by the spot and lots of places to eat round the port.

Wind Conditions

In a south-easterly, the wind hits cross-shore and produces optimal conditions for wave riding. The north-easterly Mistral blows cross-off-shore, making it hazardous unless you have the ability to ride up-wind in wavey conditions.

In an easterly Carro can be blown out. If that’s the case, try heading to Fos-sur-Mer just to the north of Port-de-Bouc. In a northerly, Carro is blown flat and you’ll get better waves at la Pointe Rouge, the other side of Marseille.