Hi guys,

Interested to know any experience of Windsurfing in Spain (south or north) and France (Brittany mainly). Going to be travelling in these regions in Late June to - early August, staring in Barcelona and ending up in Natnes (France). Not primarily a windsurfing holiday, but if I can get a side trip or two in, I will.

Places, gear hire, good/bad experiences, any suggestions?

Cheers
Simon

You're Lucky, Leucate and La Franqui are just 2 hours North of Barcelona. Defi WIND (google this) is on this location with good reason. Plus good Material for hire.
Brittany, gamble wind wise, normally F3-F4 in Summer.
South of Spain, Tarifa. Portugal, Sagres (flat) and Guincho (mast high Waves).
Forget the rest.

Hi!

I grew up in Barcelona and lived just under the French border for 10 years before I moved here. A few references below:

1) BARCELONA:
The winds during summer tend to be light (or very light), and you're going to need volume and a big sail to plane. Of course there can be exceptions to the rule, but you will have to follow the forecast. If you encounter good conditions when you're in BCN and feel like going to the water, you can hire material from any of the 2 links below:
http://magicwave.es/rent/
www.flowwatersports.com/#!rentals/c1egl

2) WHEN DRIVING UP TO FRANCE: GOLF DE ROSES
I would recommend to stop by in Costa Brava, preferably up north in around Sant Pere Pescador, staying either in L'Escala or in any of the many caravan parks in the area. This is where I lived and it's a great place to enjoy windsurf, relax, enjoy great mediterranean food and do many outdoor activities with the family. I you're interested PM and I can give you more details.
For renting windsurf gear, go to the ex-Mistral Club, now ION club, right in the middle of the Golf the Roses.
www.ionclubgolfderoses.com/windsurfing.html

If you can go a bit earlier, on June 10-12th, there is the popular "Surf Alegre", which is a fun weekend where 400 to 500 windsurfers get together in the camping "Ballena Alegre", also in Sant Pere Pescador.

The wind during this period picks up around midday, around 2ish, and a 115 l. board with a 6m2 sails is the most frequent gear combination. However, look at the forecast or speak with the locals to see if you can catch a day with a wind called TRAMUNTANA, which is a strong northerly wind that can blow at 30, 40 or even 50 knots (yes, it's very strong)... this is why the locals have 3m2 sail in their stash over there! Unfortunately, Tramuntana is more common from September, through the winter and up until May... however sometimes you're lucky and get it a few days in summer too.

3) SOUTH OF FRANCE: LEUCATE
As ned mentioned, Leucate and La Franqui (just a few km's above leucate) are the places to go. The conditions are very similar to those in Golf the Roses.
Places to hire windsurf gear:
www.ile-des-pecheurs.com/pages/funclub.php?lang=gb
www.surfone-leucate.com/

Again, feel free to PM me if you have specific questions, particularly for BCN and the Costa Brava areas.

4) SOUTH OF SPAIN: TARIFA

... well, indeed, if you can make it down south (1,100km from BCN, about 11 hours drive) TARIFA is a great place to go too. Summer is also the best time of the year in this area, as you usually have Easterly or Westerly winds (Levantes or Ponientes) around the 20-25 knots... also after lunch time :-). Highly recommended for July and August, which is when you will be there.
Awesome chill-out environment and food too!

www.tarifawindsurfing.com/
www.ion-club.net/en/tarifa-kite-school/windsurfing-rental
www.tarifaspinout.com/

5) EVEN FURTHER SOUTH: ISLAS CANARIAS
Nor sure if you were planning to go that far south to the Canary Islands, this is were you find POZO IZQUIERDO in Gran Canaria, or another one I love going is SOTAVENTO in Fuerteventura (far less crowded). I guess I don't need to publicize these spots, as they have been part of the PWA circuit for years. Truly awesome spots!
POZO: english.cutre.com/
SOTAVENTO www.rene-egli.com/es/

Ciao!

... there are other great spots at the Atlantic Coast of Spain (Golfo da Biscaya) and Portugal, however I've never sailed there so can't give you advice.