Surfing
The most consistent waves occur between about May to mid September, also often coinciding with offshore winds, although good waves can occasionally occur at other times of the year. The initial discovery and promotion of the wave is curious. Another nearby right hand point wave at St Francis Bay was first idolised and promoted in the cult classic surf movie The Endless Summer in the 1960s.
Water sports
St Francis Bay and Cape St Francis are meccas to all water sport enthusiasts. Surfing has always been a big part of water sport in this area due to the stretch of magnificent beaches in and around this area. Blessed with the perfect combination of warm water, calm seas and fair breezes this area has inspired many ocean sports including surfing, kite surfing, surf skiing, paddle skiing and stand up paddleboarding (SUP) alike to bring thrills to your life.
Paddling and SUP
The Greater St Francis boasts ample rivers, canals and the ocean for paddling and SUP’s.
The long-stretched beaches are perfect for padding as well as stand up paddleboarding (SUP), the fastest growing ocean sport in the world. The Greater St Francis has easy conditions and are perfect for the beginner to intermediate SUPer. One can start with the easy breaks and slowly move yourself up to more advance spots as you progress. Even when there are no waves one has the option to do a long-distance ocean paddle with beautiful scenery and marine life. This makes St Francis with the canals and river mouth a SUP heaven.
For the more advanced and experienced SUPer we have the wild open ocean side of the bay. Situated outside the protected bay, these areas get raw ocean swells that break onto rocky outcrops which is what makes it an advance to expert surf spot. The untouched beaches are virtually unspoiled, and you are bound to spot southern right whales nursing their calves. Around April to November, we can also spot the breeching humpbacks migrating south to mate and give birth. Over 10 000 humpbacks pass through these waters every year. The inquisitive inshore bottlenose dolphins are always around and love surfing the swell with us. You’ll also run into the more conservative humpback dolphin and some African penguins.
Kite and Wind Surfing
The Kromme River Mouth in St Francis Bay is an excellent kite surfing spot, as is Cape St Francis in various winds.
Consistent good wind and surf make these popular spots for kite and wind surfing. Kiteboarding is a surface water sport combining aspects of wakeboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, and gymnastics into one extreme sport. A kiteboarder harnesses the power of the wind with a large controllable power kite to be propelled across the water on a kiteboard similar to a wakeboard or a small surfboard, with or without
foot straps or bindings.
Kitesurfing is a style of kiteboarding specific to wave riding, which utilizes standard surfboards or boards shaped specifically for the purpose. There are different styles of kiteboarding, including freestyle freeride, downwinders, speed, course racing, wake style, jumping and kitesurfing in the waves.
Even if this is not for you, it makes one spectacular sport to watch!
