Clifton (Union Island)

About This Spot

Union Island's Clifton lagoon is the marquee kite spot of the Grenadines and one of the most reliable in the Caribbean. The riding area is the shallow, reef-protected lagoon on the east/southeast side of Clifton, home to the JT (Duotone) Pro Center 'Kite Beach.' Inside the reef the water is ultra-flat and knee- to waist-deep over white sand and turquoise water — textbook conditions for learning and freestyle. On the reef itself there's a clean left-hand wave for those who want to ride upwind and play in swell; Tobago Cays, Mayreau and Frigate Island add wave/flat options by boat or downwinder. Wind: steady ENE–ESE (roughly 80–100°) trade winds, side- to side-onshore at the lagoon, so it blows safely toward/along the beach rather than offshore. Season runs Nov–Jul with the most reliable, strongest wind in the dry season Dec–Apr (often 20–25 kt in Dec–Feb, 15–20 kt the rest of the season). Locals cite ~340 windy days/year; summer (Aug–Oct) is lighter and squallier and is effectively the off-season. Typical kite sizes 8–12m; warm water (26–28°C) means boardshorts/rashguard, no wetsuit. Skill level: excellent for beginners and intermediates thanks to the flat, shallow, schooled lagoon; advanced riders use the reef wave and downwinders. Launch/access: small sandy beach launch in Clifton, reachable by car/walk from town or by boat; full school facilities, compressor, beach bar and boat rescue at the Pro Center. Hazards: live coral reef (booties useful, don't drift onto it), anchored yachts and sailboat traffic downwind in this busy harbor, current/upwind drift that can push you toward boats or the reef, and a steady but rarely 'crowded' lineup (typically only a handful of riders). Kiting near the airport runway at the west end is prohibited — stay in the designated lagoon area.