Map › Santa Maria - Sal › Ponta Leme
Spot · tier 2 · Cape Verde
Ponta Leme
A flat-water, cross-offshore spot east of Santa Maria with gusty over-land wind and a rocky launch, plus clean wave breaks when there's southerly swell running.
intermediateflat waterfreestylewaves
Wind
| best months |
|
|---|---|
| season notes | Sal's general Nov-May trade-wind season; wind here is gustier than at Santa Maria because it crosses land before reaching the water. |
| avg knots | 15-25 |
| wind name | NE trade winds |
| direction to shore | cross-offshore |
| quality | gusty |
Water
| type | mixed |
|---|
Levels
| beginner | no |
|---|---|
| intermediate | yes |
| advanced | yes |
| notes | Flat water suits freestyle-oriented intermediate/advanced riders comfortable with gusty, cross-offshore conditions and a rocky launch. |
Launch & crowd
| description | Rocky launch area east of Santa Maria. |
|---|---|
| vibe | quieter alternative to Santa Maria/Kite Beach |
Monthly wind statistics
Station: Santa Maria, Sal (WeatherSpark (modeled climatology, MERRA-2 reanalysis), ~4.5 km) — No dedicated statistics page exists for Ponta Leme; reused the Santa Maria (Sal) WeatherSpark climatology, ~4-5 km southwest, as the nearest available modeled data (windfinder had no stats for Santa Maria/Sal and was rate-limited when tried directly for other Sal slugs). Treat these numbers as regional, not site-specific — Ponta Leme's reef-break exposure on the north shore can differ from Santa Maria town's figures.
| Month | Wind ≥4 Bft | Avg kn | Dir | Air °C | Water °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | —% | 14.6 | N | 21.7 | 22.8 |
| Feb | —% | 14.4 | N | 21.7 | 22.2 |
| Mar | —% | 14 | N | 21.7 | 21.7 |
| Apr | —% | 14.3 | N | 22.2 | 22.2 |
| May | —% | 14.2 | N | 23.3 | 22.8 |
| Jun | —% | 12.7 | N | 23.9 | 22.8 |
| Jul | —% | 9.9 | N | 25.6 | 24.4 |
| Aug | —% | 9.5 | N | 26.7 | 25.6 |
| Sep | —% | 10.8 | N | 27.2 | 26.7 |
| Oct | —% | 12 | N | 26.7 | 26.7 |
| Nov | —% | 12.7 | N | 25 | 25.6 |
| Dec | —% | 13.7 | NE | 23.3 | 23.9 |
Hazards
- rocky launch area
- gusty wind
- cross-offshore direction requires self-rescue ability
Travel basics
| airport | SID Amilcar Cabral International Airport (Sal) |
|---|---|
| getting there | short drive from Santa Maria |
| accommodation | base in Santa Maria |
| cost level | mid |
| no wind | Santa Maria town |
Nearby: Kite Beach (Santa Maria), Ponta Preta
Sources: locations.thekitespot.com