Mandal, Norway
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About Mandal
Known for kitesurfing and windsurfing, by the OpenStreetMap map of the area. The shore faces S, so wind from the N 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 S. Wind from the S blows onshore, wind from the N blows out to sea, and wind from the W or E runs along the shore. It is sheltered to the open sea. The sea floor shelves gently: 10 m deep about 850 m out (1 in 83). The sea is about 5°C in February, its coldest month (5/4 or 6/5, hood, boots and gloves), and 17°C in August, its warmest (3/2 wetsuit). For windsurfing at intermediate level the best months are usually March, June and September, with about 3 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Mandal.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 18 h door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to KRS, changing at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS). About 14 flights a week that month.
See flights ORD → KRS · Skyscanner from about £400 returnAdGetting there. 1 h 05 from the airport to Mandal.
Accommodation.
Stay in MandalAd
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 Mandal (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Mandal 1 min by car · rooms from £60 a night
Places to stay in Mandal · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Windsurfing lessons in Mandal · GetYourGuideAdBoard and rig hire in Mandal · GetYourGuideAd
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Luxury Where it is
Mandal on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
Best on Tue 20: 16 kn gusting 35, side-shore. Water: chop.
The score for windsurf, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor
| Day | Score | Wind | Gusts | Shore | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 0, poor | wind from the north-east, 5 knots | 12kn | cross-off | chop |
| Mon 19Oct | 0, poor | wind from the north-east, 5 knots | 12kn | cross-off | flat |
| Tue 20Oct | 53, good | wind from the east, 16 knots | 35kn | side | chop |
| Wed 21Oct | 0, poor | wind from the east-north-east, 17 knots | 35kn | cross-off | 0.9 mwaves |
| Thu 22Oct | 0, poor | wind from the east-south-east, 6 knots | 15kn | side-on | chop |
| Fri 23Oct | 0, poor | wind from the east-north-east, 0 knots | 20kn | side | chop |
| Sat 24Oct | 45, fair | wind from the east, 11 knots | 25kn | side | chop |
| Sun 25Oct | 50, good | wind from the south-south-east, 21 knots | 41kn | side-on | 1.3 mwaves |
| Mon 26Oct | 52, good | wind from the south-west, 13 knots | 29kn | side-on | 1.6 mwaves |
| Tue 27Oct | 48, good | wind from the south-south-east, 19 knots | 43kn | on | 1.5 mwaves |
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).
- Jan2of 7
- Feb2of 7
- Mar3of 7
- Apr2of 7
- May2of 7
- Jun3of 7
- Jul2of 7
- Aug2of 7
- Sep3of 7
- Oct2of 7
- Nov2of 7
- Dec2of 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 KRS, changing at AMS, then 1h 05 by road. About 18h door to door
- Tue 20 OctWindsurf Mandal
16 kn gusting 35, side-shore. Water: chop.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Not enough of the right wind: 17 kn gusting 35, cross-offshore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: waves 0.9 m.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Not enough of the right wind: 6 kn gusting 15, side-onshore. Water: chop.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Not enough of the right wind: 0 kn gusting 20, side-shore. Water: chop.
- Sat 24 OctWindsurf Mandal
11 kn gusting 25, side-shore. Water: chop.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly ORD to KRS, changing at AMS, then 1h 05 by road. About 18h door to door
Rough cost
About £825–£1,580 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 £400–£830
- To the UK airport £35–£65
- Hire car £70–£115
- Stay £165–£280
- Food £155–£290
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
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