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About this spot
Horseshoe Bay is the main wave spot on the island and the most popular beach with tourists. Rocky cliffs close it at both ends, so the school's spot guide says you need a wind blowing directly onshore here — south through to south-east — and the independent spot guide gives the same restriction, saying it only works with the wind around the south-east.
Inside that window the beach gives up nice sets and clean turns in the shore break, though it turns choppy further out and fills up fast: the spot guide notes that only four or five kiters make it crowded, because an onshore spot leaves little riding room. Middle to high tide gives longer rides and more space.
Because of the crowds, the school recommends this beach only in spring, autumn and winter — in summer it is packed from May to September. The facilities are the best on the island: a modern washroom block with showers and changing rooms, the most active lifeguard station on the coast, and a beach restaurant.
The small cove to the right, known locally as Baby Beach, is nearly enclosed by cliffs and sheltered from the ocean swell; families use it and it is not a kite launch.
3-day forecast
Speed / gusts in knots. Colour = rideability for this spot. Bottom row = recommended kite size for your weight — not recommended outside this spot's 14–28 kn range.
Conditions
- Water
- waves, choppy
- Depth
- Wading shore break, deeper over the sand beyond the break
- Seabed
- sand, rock
- Skill
- intermediate, expert
- Beginners
- Not for beginners — intermediate and up
- Wind range
- 14 kn – 28 kn
Access & parking
Horseshoe Bay Road, Southampton — a long walk down from the car park to the sand.
Parking: In the Horseshoe Bay car park above the beach.
Amenities
- Modern washrooms, showers and changing rooms
- Beach restaurant and the island's most active lifeguard station
- Wave riding and shore-break turns when the wind is south-easterly
- Baby Beach cove beside it for non-kiting companions
Needs local verification: Sources: https://bermuda.graykite.surf/bermuda-kite-spots/ (the busiest and most popular beach on the island, recommended only in spring, fall and winter because of the crowds, rocky cliffs either side so a very directly onshore south to south-easterly is needed, some nice sets), https://www.bermudakitesurfing.com/spotguide (the main wave spot, only works with wind around the south-east because of the cliffs at each end, choppy outside, nice turns in the shore break, crowded with four or five kiters, middle to high tide is best) and https://bermuda.graykite.surf/bermuda-beaches/ (crowds from May to September, baby beach cove enclosed by cliffs, the best washroom facilities on the island and the most active lifeguard station). No school states it runs beginner lessons on this beach, so no beginner label is given even though the water is a wave spot with a wading shore break. Coordinates are approximate. Water table: seatemperature.org Hamilton averages. Windy links are searches and maps, not verified local webcams.
Local hazards
- The busiest beach on the island, packed May to September — the school rates it for spring, autumn and winter only
- Rocky cliffs at both ends of the bay
- Sometimes a large shore break; wave height swings with the swell
- Little riding space for an onshore spot — four or five kiters makes it crowded
- Lifeguarded swimming area and children on the sand — keep well clear of bathers