From Cannes to Corsica: the first female kite crossing
Cannes kitesurfer Céline Snaidero is preparing for a crossing no woman has made: 180 kilometres of open sea from Cannes to Calvi in Corsica. She hopes to do it in nine hours — and is still looking for a support boat, without which there is no start.
🌊 Six years on the board, three records
Snaidero first got on a kite six years ago. Today she holds the women’s world distance record in twin-tip kitesurfing, unassisted and without setting foot on land. According to Endurance Wind Journal, she has covered more than 200 kilometres in a single session three times:
- 202.9 km in 8h58 — Lake Leucate, May 2024
- 201 km in 10h03 — Étang de Berre, October 2024
- 206 km in 9h06 — the Raiatea and Tahaa lagoons, French Polynesia, September 2025
“I ate right there on the water — stops like that are rare,” she says. Official ratification needs a GPS track, photo and video evidence, and witnesses.
“I have the GPS track, photos and GoPro footage, plus plenty of spectators at a popular spot,” Snaidero explains.
🏆 Why Corsica is harder than a lake record
Her earlier records were set on enclosed water — Leucate, Berre, the Polynesian lagoons. There you can tack near the shore and help is close if something breaks. Cannes to Calvi works differently: 180 kilometres of open Mediterranean in a straight line, with the wind shifting along the way and nowhere to step off.
- Distance: 180 km
- Estimated time: 8–12 hours
- Conditions: steady wind from the right direction the whole way
“I hope to come in under nine hours,” Snaidero says. In June 2026 the kitesurfer Nicolas Parlier completed the Saint-Tropez to Calvi crossing, but no woman has done this route yet.
⛵ What is holding up the start: boat, fuel, crew
The obstacle right now is logistics rather than wind. A support boat is needed for safety, and she is looking for:
- a twin-engine vessel, ideally a rigid inflatable
- sponsors to cover fuel, around €2,000
- an experienced support crew
“Most attempts of this kind start from Saint-Tropez or Toulon,” she explains. “From Cannes it is harder, but Cannes is where I want to go from.” The window is summer or September 2026, weather permitting.
🤝 The Endurance Wind Spirit association
In November 2025 Snaidero founded Endurance Wind Spirit together with Jérémy Romain — a community for people who cover long distances under wind power. Per the association’s own description, it covers eight disciplines: kitesurf, kitefoil, wingfoil, parawing, windsurf, windfoil, sup-foil and snowkite — anything driven by wind or waves, motorised boats excluded.
“Our aim is to bring athletes together and teach them safety. What matters is not just setting records but doing it properly,” the association says.
🌍 Where people kite on the Riviera
The French Riviera has long been a stage for wind sports. The main spots:
- La Bocca beach in Cannes
- Baie de la Garoupe in Antibes
- Cap d’Ail between Èze and Monaco
Average summer wind here runs 15–20 knots, enough for fast runs. Getting to the Cannes beaches costs nothing — we covered the summer routes in Cannes separately.
📅 The rest of the season
While the crossing is being prepared, Snaidero’s season is booked:
- August 2026 — beginners’ masterclasses in Mougins
- September 2026 — the possible window for the Corsica crossing
- October 2026 — a water sports festival in Juan-les-Pins
If you are coming to watch the start, our guide on visiting Cannes without overspending will help.
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Photo: Boris Hamer / Pexels