Douarnenez – Rocher de Coulinec

Douarnenez · Finistère Sud · France

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Douarnenez – Rocher de Coulinec (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/douarnenez-coulinec.

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A short, heavy right that breaks over shallow boulders by the Coulinec islet, off the Roches Blanches (Sables Blancs) beach in Tréboul, a few hundred metres east of the Pointe de Leydé. It is a bowl with one hollow section, better suited to bodyboarders than to stand-up surfers. Only big west to north-west swells wrap this far into the Douarnenez bay, so it breaks a few times a winter.

Level
Advanced
Break
Reef break, rock
Waves
Rights
Crowd
Quiet
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A bodyboard suits the short, hollow bowl best; a shortboard for stand-up surfers who know heavy, shallow waves.

When it works

✓ A big W to NW swell of 2–2.5 m or more out at sea with a southerly wind, from mid to high tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Low tide, when the boulders are too shallow to surf, any swell under about 2 m, or a northerly wind blowing into the bay.

Watch out for

  • rocks
  • reef
  • currents

Best months

January, February, March, November, December

Local tips

Paddle about 200 m across the channel from the beach towards the big rock. Never try it at low tide, and avoid falling on the take-off, as the boulders are close below. Watch out for the current in the channel.

Getting there

From Tréboul go to the Roches Blanches (Sables Blancs) beach and paddle about 200 m out from the sand across the channel towards the Coulinec islet.

Travel notes

How often it works
Rarely works. It sits deep in the Douarnenez bay, sheltered from the open Atlantic, and needs a big westerly or north-westerly swell of about 2 m or more out at sea. Summer is flat.
Crowd and vibe
It very rarely gets crowded, because it breaks so seldom and suits so few people. Wait your turn on the one short peak.
Camping and vans
Camping Huttopia Douarnenez, on Avenue du Bois d'Isis in Tréboul, is less than 1 km away. FLOWER Camping Kerleyou in Tréboul also takes motorhomes. Nearest campsite about 0.8 km away.
Facilities
No facilities at the reef. Tréboul, a short walk away, has shops, cafés and the port.
Water quality
The Sables Blancs beach is an official bathing site, rated excellent for 2025.

Ideal conditions

Swell
WNW–NW best, W–NNW works
Size
2.5–3.5 m offshore swell; starts at 2 m, holds to 5 m
Period
11 s minimum, best from 14 s
Wind
Offshore S–SW; handles onshore up to 10 km/h
Tide
mid, high best, avoid low
Faces
NNE (20°)

Live cam

No cam at this spot yet: the forecast and the guide are on the map.

Nearby spots

All spots in Finistère Sud · All spots

Sources