Located in Loire Atlantique, France, La Cote Sauvage is renowned for its collection of excellent beach breaks, featuring throaty, heavy, and cold barrels. This stretch offers a variety of breaks, each with its own character, breaking for up to 100 meters (328 feet) over a sand bottom. The waves can be challenging, especially when large, and it’s best to surf before high tide as the area becomes rocky at higher water levels.
What are the best surf conditions for La Cote Sauvage?
The surf is ideal between waist-high and triple overhead. We recommend riding a shortboard or step-up to handle the waves effectively. This break is best suited for intermediate and advanced surfers. La Cote Sauvage is quite consistent, with a rating of 6/10, but it can become extremely crowded, with a rating of 9/10. The waves here offer top-to-bottom, hard-breathing barrels, particularly when a WSW swell meets an E wind. Key spots include Port-Blanc, which is sheltered from N winds by a cliff and is likely the busiest; Port Marie, which breaks far offshore; Port-Rhu, known for its well-defined peak; and Port-Bara, which is more accessible. Be mindful of reef anchors and large clusters of rocks that can affect the line-up at high tides, so aim to exit before dead high.
The best winds are from the East, and the optimal swells come from the Southwest and West. La Cote Sauvage works best on low to mid tides.
In summer, a 3/2 wetsuit is recommended when water temperatures rise to 16°C (61°F). In winter, a 4/3 wetsuit is best when temperatures drop to 10°C (50°F). Note that some spots may require membership with the French Surfing Federation to surf. See the temperature chart below for more data on this.
