Anse de Pen-hat.

Anse de Pen-hat is a hollow, fast-breaking beachbreak sitting on the Crozon Peninsula in Finistère, Brittany. The sandy bottom produces a-frame peaks at both ends of the bay, with waves that can get genuinely steep and punchy despite the well-covered bottom absorbing some energy. Strong rip currents running along each end are actually functional here - they sculpt and position the peaks rather than simply draining energy from the lineup. The bay faces west and picks up SW through NW swells well, though it consistently receives less swell than the more exposed La Palue beach to the south. The window opens properly from around 0.3m and handles up to roughly 1.8m before size starts to overwhelm the banks. Mid-incoming tide is the sweet spot, when the push organises the sandbars and adds punch to what can otherwise be slopey, welling sections at other stages. Rides typically run 50-100m. Easterly winds hold the faces clean. The dramatic backdrop includes the ruins of a coastal castle, and access follows signs toward Pointe du Toulinguet to a free car park above the beach. Crowd numbers at Pen-hat have been climbing in recent years as the spot's quality becomes better known. Several other breaks in the immediate vicinity offer alternatives when size or wind direction makes Pen-hat less than ideal.

Rip currents sculpt the a-frames along Crozon's hollow, west-facing bay.