Gökçeada / Kefaloz

About this spot

Gökçeada (Imbros), Turkey's largest island, sits in the northern Aegean west of the Dardanelles and catches the meltemi at full strength. Kefaloz bay, a long sandy sweep on the south-west coast, is one of the most reliable and wildest kite spots in the country: the north-westerly blows side-shore along the beach most summer afternoons at 18–32 kn, with enough fetch to build clean, ridable waves — a rare combination of accessible water and real surf in Turkey.

The bottom is sand with some stones and the water deepens steadily. The wind works from the north-west through west to south-west, arriving side-shore or onshore, while easterly and southerly directions blow over the island's hills and are offshore and gusty. The meltemi is strongest from July to September and often starts flat in the morning before filling in around noon. There is no rescue service on the beach and the island is quiet — ride with a buddy and stay within your limits.

Across the ridge lies a salt lake and lagoon that offers flatter, shallower water in the right wind, and the island's Greek villages, tavernas and guesthouses make it a wonderful base. Ferries run from Kabatepe on the mainland, about 1 h 30 min from Çanakkale; in the off-season sailings, accommodation and services are limited, so plan the trip carefully. Local launch rules, seasonal conditions and the lagoon's water level still need on-site verification.