GUIDE: LIST OF SMALL ANTILLES SPOTS, KITE AND WING
🎯 In short: This Guide
The Lesser Antilles are a kitesurfer's paradise, blessed with consistent easterly trade winds. Expect 15-20 knots in winter and 8-13 knots in summer (though be mindful of cyclone season from June to November). This comprehensive guide covers all the top kiting islands: Saint-Martin, Barbuda, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and the Grenadines. Each destination gets its own dedicated article with in-depth details.
Live Conditions
GlissEvolution provides all the essential info for your trip, including live wind data, high-resolution forecasts, tides, and webcams on our dedicated weather pages:
► Saint-Martin · Orient Bay Weather & Live Wind
► Barbuda · Low Bay Weather & Live Wind
► Antigua · Green Island Weather & Live Wind
► Grenadines · Tobago Cays Weather & Live Wind
► All Spots: Weather & Spot Guide (covering 74 spots across France and Europe)
Lesser Antilles kite and wing surf spots:
Today's article is your ultimate guide, listing all the kitesurf spots we've detailed in individual articles.
► Here's what's on tap:
- Saint Martin
- Barbuda: Spanish Point, Barbuda Low Bay
- Antigua: Great Bird Island, Green Island
- Guadeloupe Grande Terre: Saint François, Sainte Anne, Plage des Salines, Pointes des Chevaliers...
- Guadeloupe Basse Terre: Grand Cul de Sac Marin, Petit Cul de Sac Marin, Petit Bourg
- Martinique: Baie des Anglais, Anse Michel
- The Grenadines: Bequia, Mayreau, Tobago Cays, Union Clifton, Union, Ashton, Frigate Island, Happy Island
► General Weather Conditions:
The entire Lesser Antilles region is shaped by the trade winds, delivering a consistent easterly breeze year-round. You'll find it trending northeast in winter and southeast in summer. Typically, expect 15-20 knots in winter and 8-13 knots in summer.
While the swell generated by the trade winds is usually moderate (between 1 and 2 meters), the Lesser Antilles also catch northeasterly swell from northern depressions. This creates fantastic conditions for surfing.
Heads up: June to November is hurricane season, so anything can happen.
Dive into these articles to discover the unique characteristics of each kite spot listed above. Every article breaks down the rider level, the riding disciplines, and a comprehensive overview of the spot from every angle.
► Weather Links:
- Windguru: https://www.windguru.cz/4149
- Tides: https://www.cabaigne.net/caraibes/martinique/horaire-marees.html
► Kite Schools:
- For sailing and kitesurf lessons in the Antilles, check out: https://iocroisiere.com/.
You can also find IO Croisière on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IOcroisiere - For kite lessons with Maximum Kite, visit their
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/maximumkite - Get kite lessons at JT Pro Center, and follow them on
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jtprocenter - Experience a kite cruise with Caribbean Kite Cruise. Find them on
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caribbeankitecruise - Isabelle Fabre: Isabelle Fabre website.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsabelleFabreVoyage
Photo credits and article writing assistance: Tropicool for IO Croisière (for drone photos) and IO Croisière
► Our Favorite Gear:
GlissEvolution stocks the biggest kitesurf brands you see out on the water at our local spots:
Duotone, Eleveight, Flysurfer, Naish, North, Airush, Slingshot, Ozone, Liquid Force.
All these brands offer complete ranges, with allround models and specialized options for freestyle, freeride, wave, or big air riding.
Our favorite kite and wing gear for the Antilles:
Personally, I'm all about strapless surf, so I highly recommend a Duotone Whip or Fish board. Their noseless shape makes them incredibly versatile and compact, perfect for travel. These boards excel in light wind freeride or freestyle, and they'll absolutely deliver if you score a great wave session. Alternatively, check out the Duotone Hybrid SLS, it's so good you won't even need to bring a foil board!
My Antilles quiver this year includes the Juice 11m² and Neo SLS 8m². I ride both the Juice and the Neo SLS with a foil from 8 knots, just like my girlfriend who rides the Doll.
Greg, who rides twintip, would suggest a Duotone Jaime Textreme or an Eleveight Master, matched with a Duotone Evo or Eleveight RS for sending loops.
This year, his quiver features the Eleveight RS for big air and old school riding. It's also fantastic unhooked, as the new version of this kite is incredibly versatile. He also packs a 9m² WS for those epic wave and foil sessions, where he prefers to ride with straps.
Our favorite foil gear:
For kite foil, the Duotone Pace board paired with either the Spirit Carve foil or Spirit GT remains our top choice.
I opted for a Moses kit 91/633. It's easy and stable, with a higher top speed than I typically use for leisurely cruising. The lighter weight also means I can bring back an extra two liters of rum on my return flight compared to an aluminum version!
Our favorite wing gear:
For wing surf, we recommend a lightweight board for travel and a wing with a wishbone for light wind. The JKS carbon Limited edition board with its Moses kit 92/950 foil, accompanied by a Duotone Echo or Slick wing, is perfect for light wind freeride and freestyle. For waves, grab an HB Flair or Ozone Wasp.
Frequently Asked Questions
When to go kiting in the Lesser Antilles?
The best period runs from December to May. Regular easterly trade winds of 15-20 knots in winter (8-13 knots in summer) are common. Moderate swell of 1 to 2 meters is typical. From June to November, it is hurricane season. Conditions are unpredictable then.
Which Caribbean islands are best for kitesurfing?
Saint-Martin (Orient Bay), Barbuda (Spanish Point, Low Bay), Antigua (Great Bird Island, Green Island), Guadeloupe (Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre), Martinique (Pointe Faula, Anse Michel), and the Grenadines (Tobago Cays, Union, Mayreau, Bequia).
Are there waves in the Caribbean for surfing?
The swell generated by the trade winds remains moderate (1 to 2 meters), but depressions north of the area send a very interesting northeast swell for surfing, especially in winter.
Where can I check live wind conditions in the Antilles?
GlissEvolution publishes live wind conditions and forecasts for Orient Bay, Barbuda, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and the Grenadines on its Weather & spot guide platform.
Key Features
| Section | Key takeaway |
|---|---|
| In short, this guide | The Lesser Antilles are perfect for riding with constant easterly trade winds: expect 15-20 knots in winter and 8-13 knots in summer. Note that June to November is hurricane season. |
| Program | Saint Martin Barbuda: Spanish Point, Barbuda Low Bay Antigua: Great Bird Island, Green Island Guadeloupe Grande Terre: Saint François, Sainte Anne, Plage des Salines, Pointes des… |
| General Weather Conditions | The entire Lesser Antilles region is shaped by the trade winds. This constant easterly wind blows all year, shifting northeast in winter and southeast in summer. |
| Kite Schools | Looking for sailboat and kitesurf lessons in the Antilles? Check out https://iocroisiere.com/ or their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/IOcroisiere. For Maximum kite lessons, find them on Facebook: Maximum… |
| Our favorite gear | GlissEvolution stocks all the biggest kitesurf brands you see out on our local spots: Duotone, Eleveight, Flysurfer, Naish, North, Airush, Slingshot, Ozone, and more. |
| Our Top Kite and Wing Gear Picks for the Antilles | As a strapless surf enthusiast, I highly recommend a Duotone Whip or Fish board. These boards offer excellent versatility. |
| Our Top Foil Gear Picks | For kite foil, our go-to choice is the Duotone Pace board combined with either the Spirit Carve or Spirit GT foil. |
| Our Top Wing Gear Picks | For wing surfing, we suggest a lightweight board for easy travel and a wing with a wishbone for optimal light wind performance. |
Consider this
Key considerations and limitations noted in this article:
- The Lesser Antilles also catch northeast swells, generated by depressions to the north. This creates fantastic conditions for surfing.
- Heads up: June to November is hurricane season, so be prepared for anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
In short: key takeaways from this guide
The Lesser Antilles are known for consistent easterly trade winds, typically 15-20 knots in winter and 8-13 knots in summer. (Remember, June to November is hurricane season.) This guide highlights the best islands for kiting: Saint-Martin, Barbuda, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and the Grenadines. Each island gets its own detailed article.
On the program: what you need to know
Saint Martin Barbuda: Spanish Point, Barbuda Low Bay Antigua: Great Bird Island, Green Island Guadeloupe Grande Terre: Saint François, Sainte Anne, Plage des Salines, Pointes des Chevaliers... Guadeloupe Basse Terre: Grand Cul de Sac marin, Petit cul de sac marin, Petit Bourg Martinique: Baie des Anglais, Anse Michel The Grenadines: Bequia, Mayreau, Tobago Cays, Union Clifton, Union, Ashton, Frigate Island, Happy Island
General Weather Conditions: Key Takeaways
The Lesser Antilles are dominated by the trade winds, a consistent easterly wind year-round. It tends to blow from the northeast in winter and the southeast in summer. Expect 15-20 knots in winter and 8-13 knots in summer.
Kite Schools: What You Need to Know
For liveaboard sailing and kitesurf lessons in the Antilles, visit https://iocroisiere.com/ or check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/IOcroisiere. You can also find Maximum kite lessons on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maximumkite. For JT Pro center kite lessons, visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jtprocenter. For Caribbean Kite Cruise, find them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caribbeankitecruise. Isabelle Fabre's website is also available: Isabelle website…
Our Favorite Gear: What You Need to Know
GlissEvolution stocks the biggest kitesurf brands you see riding on our spots: Duotone, Eleveight, Flysurfer, Naish, North, Airush, Slingshot, Ozone, Liquid Force. All these brands offer complete ranges with allround models or specialized options for freestyle, freeride, wave, or big air riding.
Our Favorite Kite and Wing Gear for the Antilles: What You Need to Know
As a strapless surf enthusiast, I recommend a Duotone Whip or Fish board. Their noseless shape makes them incredibly versatile and compact.
Got a question about the gear mentioned here?
The GlissEvolution team rides what they sell. They are available to answer your questions in person at the Pornichet store or by phone.
