# San Clemente del Tuyú - Punta Rasa — San Clemente del Tuyú, Argentina

Punta Rasa is the northern tip of Cape San Antonio, about 8 km from San Clemente del Tuyú, within the Punta Rasa Nature Reserve and the Samborombón Bay wildlife refuge. You ride on the bay side, southwest of the point, in flat and very shallow water: it is one of the easiest spots to learn or practice in flat water on the Buenos Aires coast.

Schools wait for North, Northeast or Northwest winds of 16 to 22 kt; the best months are from November to March and courses run from October to April. Southerly and Southwesterly winds should be avoided: they are gusty and have previously dragged kiters towards the open estuary. The tide rules: at low tide the water retreats and the rideable area shrinks.

It is reached via a sandy track from Calle 2 in San Clemente, towards Termas Marinas; with spring tides or a sudestada it floods, so a high vehicle or 4x4 is advisable. Park on the shell ridge at the end of the track and set up on the beach. There are no services: no toilets, no shade, no water, no lifeguards and no rescue boat. Wear booties because of the shells, take your rubbish with you and do not pass through the flocks of birds. For emergencies in the water, Prefectura Naval: 106. On summer weekends the beach fills up with schools, fishermen and cars.

Photos: "Faro San Antonio, Punta Rasa extremo norte del cabo San Antonio" by Gabrielsus (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons.

- **Sports:** Kitesurf, Wingfoil
- **Difficulty:** Beginner
- **Location:** San Clemente del Tuyú, Argentina (-36.29546, -56.77649)
- **Favourable wind directions (where the wind blows from):** N (0°), NE (45°), NW (315°)
- **Wind range (knots):** 14–25
- **Best months:** October, November, December, January, February, March, April

## Wind by month (% of days per strength)

| Month | <7 kn | 7–13 kn | 13–20 kn | 20–35 kn | >35 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2 | 38 | 48 | 11 | 1 |
| February | 5 | 55 | 30 | 10 | 0 |
| March | 2 | 50 | 37 | 10 | 1 |
| April | 12 | 34 | 35 | 15 | 4 |
| May | 11 | 44 | 33 | 10 | 2 |
| June | 6 | 49 | 35 | 8 | 2 |
| July | 5 | 45 | 39 | 11 | 0 |
| August | 11 | 47 | 27 | 13 | 2 |
| September | 7 | 42 | 33 | 15 | 3 |
| October | 2 | 29 | 49 | 19 | 1 |
| November | 4 | 43 | 40 | 10 | 3 |
| December | 4 | 45 | 42 | 9 | 0 |

## Local winds

- **Norte** — N (0°), 14–25 kn. One of the school winds: comes in side-shore along the bay beach and leaves the water flat and shallow.. Pushes south, along the coast: stay in the shallow water in front of the beach.
- **Noreste** — NE (45°), 14–25 kn. The most frequent wind with good intensity: comes from the point, side-shore and slightly off-shore, with flat water. Schools work with 16 to 22 kt.. Blows slightly off-shore: do not move away from the beach in light wind and do not go towards the open estuary.
- **Noroeste** — NW (315°), 14–25 kn. Comes from the bay towards the beach: the most comfortable for returning to the shore. Schools use it when it comes in.. On-shore wind: set up away from cars and people.
- **Sur** — S (180°), 15–35 kn. Southerly and Southwesterly wind: gusty and pushes towards the point and the open estuary. With a shift to South, kiters have already been dragged out to sea.. Do not go out with South or Southwest. If the wind rotates to the South, return to the beach immediately.

## Zones

- **Launch** — Launch zone
- **Punta Rasa** — Navigation zone
- **Parking** — Parking

## Points of interest

- **Bay launch**: Beach on the bay side, southwest of the point, where sessions start (Strava heatmap).
- **Shell ridge**: At the end of the track, park on the shell ridge, about 40 m from the launch (approximate position).
- **Point and open estuary**: Beyond the point the estuary current drags: with Southerly or Southwesterly winds do not let yourself be carried here.
- **Faro San Antonio**: Lighthouse south of the launch, 1.2 km away: good reference from the water (OpenStreetMap).

## Hazards

- With Southerly or Southwesterly wind it takes you towards the open estuary
- Estuary current: at low tide the water retreats and the area shrinks
- No lifeguards or rescue boat: ride with a partner
- Sandy track that floods with spring tides or sudestada
- Migratory birds on the sand: do not pass through the flocks

## Obstacles

- Broken shells on the sand: wear booties
- Cars, fishermen and schools on the sand during summer weekends

## Facilities

- School
- Parking

[See it on Ventus Surf (3D map, zones and live forecast)](https://ventus.surf/spots/san-clemente-del-tuyu-punta-rasa-Sdj6T8bgYWou39RrixU2?lang=en)