Troia / Lisboa / Portugal

The spot at Troia is located on a narrow sand strip some 47 km south of Lisbon. It is reached by ferry from Setubal and juts into the Sado estuary. Having miles of beautiful golden sands and some of the cleanest bathing conditions, it is popular with holidaymakers as well as all types of surfers and sailors of all abilities. The season is from March to September but as with all of this coast, off season is possible if you are fully suited and booted.

The beach is very large and sandy with lots of and dunes, being about 30 km, and totally free of pebbles, shells or rocks. There is certainly plenty of room to launch and land a kite and the beach rarely gets that crowded, apart from weekends at the height of summer. You can get here by ferry from Setubal which takes about 20 minutes.

The winds are mainly thermals and are at their best from January to March and October to December. The best winds come from the south, south west and west and are very stable. The north wind is a little more tricky and can get quite gusty. The best kitesurfing months are off season from fall to spring and the best sailing months are during the winter when the wind comes cleanly off the sea. The thermals that kick in during the summer bring with them speeds averaging 15 knots for much of the summer months. The water quality is clean and flat during the summer with north west winds. There is good swell during the winter when a south west wind is dominant. During the winter you can sail in the inside bays where the water is flatter. Watch out for the strong current if you venture into the middle of the river.

This is a great spot with plenty of parking, a rescue center, shower and toilet facilities and places to buy food. If you need to stock up on supplies then head into Troia town which has all you need. Lisbon has to be worth a visit for some excellent culture and nightlife, if you want to make a weekend of it.

Keep an eye open for shipping traffic and watch out for the strong currents in the middle of the river.