Ventspils, Latvia
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About Ventspils
Known for kitesurfing and windsurfing, by the OpenStreetMap map of the area. The shore faces N, so wind from the S blows out to sea (our estimate from the coastline). Facts: verified.
Water about 13°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
A spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing, as OpenStreetMap maps it, on a shore facing N. Wind from the N blows onshore, wind from the S blows out to sea, and wind from the E or W runs along the shore. It is sheltered to the open sea. The sea floor shelves very gently: 10 m deep about 2.7 km out (1 in 270). The sea is about 3°C in February, its coldest month (5/4 or 6/5, hood, boots and gloves), and 19°C in August, its warmest (2 mm shorty). For windsurfing at beginner level the best month is usually May, with about 4 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Ventspils.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 20 h 35 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to RIX, changing at Dublin Airport (DUB). About 8 flights a week that month.
See flights ORD → RIX · Skyscanner from about £445 returnAdGetting there. 3 h from the airport to Ventspils.
Accommodation.
Stay in VentspilsAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Ventspils (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Ventspils 1 min by car · rooms from £60 a night
Places to stay in Ventspils · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Windsurfing lessons in Ventspils · GetYourGuideAdBoard and rig hire in Ventspils · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Ventspils on Google Maps · Directions
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One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Forecast
Best on Mon 19: 7 kn gusting 11, side-shore. Water: flat.
The score for windsurf, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor
| Day | Score | Wind | Gusts | Shore | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 67, good | wind from the north-east, 12 knots | 18kn | side-on | chop |
| Mon 19Oct | 80, good | wind from the east-north-east, 7 knots | 11kn | side | flat |
| Tue 20Oct | 0, poor | wind from the east, 8 knots | 13kn | cross-off | flat |
| Wed 21Oct | 0, poor | wind from the east-south-east, 12 knots | 17kn | cross-off | flat |
| Thu 22Oct | 0, poor | wind from the south-east, 10 knots | 14kn | offnot safe | flat |
| Fri 23Oct | 0, poor | wind from the south-west, 9 knots | 12kn | cross-off | chop |
| Sat 24Oct | 0, poor | wind from the south-south-east, 6 knots | 9kn | offnot safe | chop |
| Sun 25Oct | 0, poor | wind from the south-east, 8 knots | 13kn | offnot safe | chop |
| Mon 26Oct | 0, poor | wind from the south, 16 knots | 22kn | offnot safe | chop |
| Tue 27Oct | 0, poor | wind from the west-south-west, 23 knots | 39kn | side | chop |
Day scores are the conditions out of 80. Wind is the day's best reading: the mean and the gusts in knots (10 kn is about 19 km/h); the arrow points where it blows to. Shore: "side" is side-shore, blowing along the beach, the safe way; "side-on" and "on" blow in towards it; "cross-off" and "off" blow out to sea, and offshore scores nothing for kite and windsurf. Water is the open sea's waves near the spot: flat under 0.3 m, chop to 0.8 m.
The season
Good windsurf days in a typical week, each month, from 2016 on (ERA5 history scored the same way).
- Jan1of 7
- Feb1of 7
- Mar2of 7
- Apr3of 7
- May4of 7
- Jun3of 7
- Jul3of 7
- Aug2of 7
- Sep2of 7
- Oct1of 7
- Nov1of 7
- Dec1of 7
Typical, not a forecast. Reanalysis wind misses some local thermal winds, so a spot known for an afternoon breeze may do better than this.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for windsurf. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly ORD to RIX, changing at DUB, then 3h by road. About 20h 35 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Not enough of the right wind: 8 kn gusting 13, cross-offshore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: flat.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Not enough of the right wind: 12 kn gusting 17, cross-offshore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: flat.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Not enough of the right wind: 10 kn gusting 14, offshore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: flat.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Not enough of the right wind: 9 kn gusting 12, cross-offshore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: chop.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Not enough of the right wind: 6 kn gusting 9, offshore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: chop.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly ORD to RIX, changing at DUB, then 3h by road. About 20h 35 door to door
Rough cost
About £870–£1,670 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing. A guide from typical prices, not a quote. Kit hire is not in it yet: we have no sourced price for it.
- Flights £445–£920
- To the UK airport £35–£65
- Hire car £70–£115
- Stay £165–£280
- Food £155–£290
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.