Antifer

The view takes a bit of getting used to – rugged countryside one way, an oil terminal with its two giant breakwaters the other. But Antifer’s main feature is its turbo-charged south-westerly: even light breezes ramp-up to an impressive 25 knots, and it often blows some 10 knots stronger than nearby Le Havre. Of course, the wind direction has to be spot-on – if it shifts, expect a swim home! Thermal north-easterlies are pretty gusty in the first breakwater’s wind-shadow; it’s better further out between the two, but don’t get too close as strong currents pull onto them.