Flat water spots: a windsurfing/kiteboarding highway | Photo: Luderitz Speed Challenge/Karine Terrien

Flat water spots are the best pick for speed sailors and freestyle creatives. With 20-knot side-to-offshore wind conditions, smooth H2O surfaces are perfect for wind sports fanatics.

The best flat water spots in the world are everywhere, on all five continents.

Fortunately, strong winds are there, too. All you need is the right board, sail, and a resilient harness.

Flat water spots for windsurfers and kiteboarders are available in the open ocean, river canyons, lagoons, lakes, dams, harbors, bays, and river mouths.

Speed, freestyle, and slalom are the "official" sailing classes enjoying the pleasures of perfect flat water world paradises.

Forget the bumpy adventure in the waves - it's time to speed up down the strip.

Nowadays, the small town of Luderitz is probably considered the "Mecca" of speed sailing in flat waters.

Sitting between the Atlantic and the hot desert, Luderitz is home to the fastest sailing records.

Flat water also means learning. If you're a windsurf or kitesurf beginner, horizontal H2O is all you need and want.

Calm waters and a light breeze will get you planing in a couple of hours.

Whether you're in Europe (Alqueva, Cagliari, Martinhal, Portland Harbour, Sotavento, Tarifa, Viganj), the USA (Columbia River Gorge, Corpus Christi Bay, Florida Keys, Hood River, San Francisco Bay), or Australia (Cervantes, Inverloch, Lancelin Bay), great flat waters are waiting for you.

Also, take a look at the best windsurfing spots in the world.

The Sailboarder's Top 50 Flat Water Spots

  • Aitutaki, Cook Islands
  • Alqueva, Portugal
  • Barra do Cunhaú, Brazil
  • Bulabog, Philippines
  • Cabarete, Dominican Republic
  • Cabo de La Vela, Colombia
  • Cagliari, Italy
  • Cervantes, Australia
  • Columbia River Gorge, USA
  • Corpus Christi Bay, USA
  • Cumbuco, Brazil
  • Dahab, Egypt
  • Dakhla, Morocco
  • El Gouna, Egypt
  • El Yaque, Venezuela
  • Essaouira, Morocco
  • Fishermen's Huts, Aruba
  • Florida Keys, USA
  • Grand Anse, Guadeloupe
  • Hood River, USA
  • Hua Hin, Thailand
  • Ilôt Maître, New Caledonia
  • Inverloch, Australia
  • Jinha Beach, South Korea
  • Lac Bay, Bonaire
  • Lake Nitinat, Canada
  • Lancelin Bay, Australia
  • Le Galion, Saint Martin
  • Le Morn Lagoon, Mauritius
  • Luderitz, Namibia
  • Martinhal, Portugal
  • Motu Martin, Tahiti
  • Paracas Bay, Peru
  • Petite Lamèque, Canada
  • Portland Harbour, UK
  • Phuket, Thailand
  • Punta Rasa, Argentina
  • Radio Tower, Cocos Islands
  • Raglan Rivermouth, New Zealand
  • San Francisco Bay, USA
  • Sandy Beach, Aruba
  • Sorobon, Bonaire
  • Sotavento, Fuerteventura/Spain
  • Souk el Ghebli, Tunisia
  • Tarifa, Spain
  • Temae, French Polynesia
  • Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Varadero, Cuba
  • Viganj, Croatia
  • Walvis Bay, Namibia

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