Grace Bay / Five Cays Settlements / Turks and Caicos Islands

Mainly a kitesurfing beach, but also used by windsurfers, this offers a variety of conditions that will appeal to all whether they are experienced or not.  The bay is a kind of crescent shape, catching some decent winds and swells but protected from the strongest of these by the curving land and a reef further out. 

The beach is sandy and it is over 10 km long, but there are a lot of resorts along it and some areas can get crowded because of this.  The climate is warm and sunny all year round, and the water temperatures are warm enough that a wetsuit isn’t required. 

The season really runs from December to July, although February to April can be a bit hit and miss.  With frontal winds in winter and trade winds in summer, you can expect speeds of 15 – 25 knots as it blows in from the north.  The surface is choppy close to shore, and the further you go out the bigger the waves get until you reach the reef, where you’ll find them up to 3m high.  The water is clean and tide has no impact. 

There are loads of resorts around here, so you get a good choice of accommodation with showers, toilets and food all on hand.  Parking is easy if you drive here, but the airport is only a short taxi ride away so a car isn’t really required. 

The only things to watch out for are the beachgoers and swimmers, apart from them it’s a very safe location.