Overview
Tai Long Wan SK is a sand-bottomed beach setup in the New Territories, in Sai Kung province, and it serves up the biggest, most consistent and best shaped waves around. The bay is a giant horseshoe made up of four beaches facing northeast to southeast. The long white sands of Fung Bay and Sai Wan are probably the pick of them, catching any swell on offer, while Ham Tin gets a little protection at its northern end. A couple of small-scale rivermouth setups sit in the bay too, though the rides there are short and the waves are usually no bigger than 3 ft (1 m).
When It Works
The bay draws swell from north through east, with northeast (NE) the best match, and it works from 0.3 m / 1 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft. Both lefts and rights are on offer, and it can be inconsistent at times, but the windows are worth waiting for. Winter is the stretch to plan around: there's plenty of swell in the 2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m) range, the sandbars shift around less, and it's not uncommon for waves to break 4-6 ft (1.2-2 m) for a week straight. On a big swell, a classic little 3 ft left shorebreak peels right in front of the store at Ham Tin.
Wind and Tide
Look for northwest (NW) offshore wind. The beach can work through most of the tide, with a rising tide the better call and mid to high generally the sweeter window.
Local Tips
This one suits intermediate surfers. It can get big, hollow and rippy, so a strong northeast or typhoon swell is no place for beginners. Expect a moderately busy lineup when it turns on.
Access
Tai Long Wan SK sits two hours from the city, so most surfers camp overnight and eat at the Hoi Fung store, which nestles among the trees on the beach. There's a surf shop on hand as well.
