Scene from Port Safaga, Red Sea, Egypt
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UK South Coast Sailing Venues
| Venue |
Best Wind |
Sailable Wind |
| Devon |
| Seaton |
SW |
W,SE,S,SW,W |
| Dorset |
| Lyme Regis |
NE,E,SW |
NE,E,SW |
| Eype Mouth |
W,SW,SE |
W,SW,E |
| Weymouth, Portland Harbour |
W,SW |
N,NE,E,SE,S,SW,W,NW |
| Weymouth Bay, Preston Beach |
SW,S,SE,E |
SW,S,SE,E |
| Ringstead Bay |
SW |
SW |
| Kimmeridge Bay |
NW,W,SW,S,E |
NW,W,SW,S,E |
| Swanage Bay |
NE,SE |
NE,E,SE,S |
| Studland Bay |
N,NE,E,SE,SW |
N,NE,E,SE,SW |
| Poole Harbour |
N,E,SE,S,SW,W,NW |
N,E,SE,S,SW,W,NW |
| Poole, Sandbanks |
NE,E,SE,S,SW,W |
NE,E,SE,S,SW,W |
| Poole, Branksome Chine |
W |
W |
| Bournemouth, Alum Chine |
W |
W |
| Christchurch Harbour |
SE,S,SW,W,NW |
SE,S,SW,W,NW |
| Avon Beach |
WSW-waves,SW-slalom |
WSW,SW |
| Lepe |
W,SW |
W,SW,E,SE |
| Calshot |
NE,W,SE,S,SW |
NE,W,SE,S,SW |
| Hillhead |
SW,W,NW |
SW,W,NW,E,SE,S |
| Lee on Solent |
SW,W,NW |
SW,W,NW,E,SE,S |
| Stokes Bay |
SW,SE |
E,SE,S,SW,W,WNW |
| Eastney |
E,S,SW,W |
E,S,SW,W |
| Hayling Island, Northney |
SW,W,E |
SW,W,E,NE |
| Hayling Island, West Town |
SW |
SW |
| Hayling Island, East |
? |
? |
| Chichester Harbour |
E,SE,S,SW,W,NW |
E,SE,S,SW,W,NW |
| West Sussex |
| West Wittering |
SW,NE,NW |
SE,NE,NW |
| East Wittering |
W |
W |
| Bracklesham Bay |
W |
W |
| Pagham |
SW,NE,E |
SW,S,SE,E,NE |
| Bognor Regis |
SW |
SW,S,SE,E |
| Felpham |
SW |
SW,S,SE,E |
| Climping Sands |
SW,S,NE |
SW,S,NE |
| Littlehampton |
SW,S,NW |
SW,S,NW |
| Angmering-on-Sea |
SW |
SW |
| Goring by Sea, Worthing |
SW,W |
E,SE,S,SW |
| East Sussex |
| Hove |
W,E |
W,E |
| Brighton |
E,SE,S,SW,W |
E,SE,S,SW,W |
| Saltdean |
WNW,ESE |
WNW,SW,ESE |
| Seaford Bay, Newhaven |
SW |
SW |
| Eastbourne |
SSW,S,NE |
SSW,S,SE,NE |
| Pevensey Bay |
SSE |
NE,E,SSW,S,SE |
| Norman's Bay |
SW |
SW,NE |
| Cooden Bay |
SW |
SW,S,SE,E |
| Bexhill |
SW,S,SE,E |
SW,S,SE,E |
| Hastings, St Leonards |
SW |
SW,S,SE,E |
| Camber Sands |
SW |
SW,W |
| Broomfield Sands |
SW,W |
SW,W |
| Kent |
| Littlestone-on-Sea |
S,NE,N |
S,N,NE |
| Pirate Springs |
S,SW,NE |
S,SW,NE |
| St Mary's Bay |
SW |
SW,NE,S,N |
| Dymchurch |
SW,SE,NE |
SW,SE,S,NE |
| Hythe |
SW |
SW,E |
| Sandgate |
S,SW,E |
S,SW,E |
| Dover Docks |
S,SE,SW |
S,SE,SW |
| St Margarets Bay |
SW |
SW |
| Sandwich Bay |
N,NE,S,SE |
N,NE,S,SE |
| Pegwell Bay |
SE,S,NE |
SE,S,NE |
| Ramsgate Sands |
NE,SW,S |
NE,SW,S |
| Joss Bay |
SE,N |
SE,N |
| Botany Bay |
SE,N |
SE,N |
| Palm Bay |
NE |
NE |
| Minnis Bay |
SW,W,SE,N |
SW,W,SE,N |
| Hampton |
NE,W |
NE,W,WSW |
| Whitstable Bay |
SW,W,NW,NE,E,SE |
SW,W,NW,NE,E,SE |
| Harty Ferry |
E,W |
E,W |
| Leysdown-on-Sea |
N,S,SW for waves |
N,S,SW |
| The Shingle Bank, Minster |
NW,N,NE,E,SE |
NW,N,NE,E,SE,SW offshore |
| Allhallows |
NW,N,NE,E,SE |
NW,N,NE,E,SE |
|
Christchurch Harbour is around
2 kilometres long by one wide with safe sailing for all abilities.
The best launch point is by the Sandhills car park, but get there
early if you want to park close to the rigging area. It's just twenty
yards to the water and there's a shallow inlet, ideal for beginners
to launch in. The bottom is mainly muddy with shingle and boulders
in places so footwear is recommended. SW will blow you back to your
starting point so walk around the harbour until the wind is more
favourable. Beginners should give the area south of Mudeford Quay
a wide berth as the water funnels out of the harbour reaching 8
knots. Also keep clear of Stanpit Marsh - it's a bird sanctuary.
The best winds are from the SE to NW and the water varies from flat
to choppy. Bournemouth Windsurfing is based just up the road and
as well as stocking new equipment they have second-hand boards and
sails, give lessons and run supervised hire Tel:01425 272509.
Getting There: From the M27 at Ringwood,
take the A338 or B3347 and follow signs to Christchurch, Mudeford
and Mudeford Quay (This route avoids Christchurch centre).
Parking: Sandhills Car Park (pay and
display) or less conveniently further down the road and closer to
the sea.
Ideal Wind Direction: SE - NW
Suitable For: All abilities
Water Quality: Unknown
Accommodation: In town
Amenities: Pub on the quay. Also try
the Hut on Mudeford Sandbanks (take the ferry) for sea food.
|
Hillhead. A large grassy area directly
in front of the shingle beach plus free parking for 150 cars right
next to the beach makes this a popular windsurfing venue. The best
wind direction is SW to NW but it can also be sailed in E to SW.
The tidal range is small and even at low tide the water is close
to the rigging area. Launching generally is easy. For intermediates
and above there are good swells and waves half a mile out to sea.
There are toilets on the beach and the Seafarers SC is next door:
Andy Biggs Windsurfing has a hire and teaching centre at Hillhead
with a range of spares though the main shop is at Gosport, three
miles away. For liquid refreshment try either the Osborne View or
Swordfish.
Getting There: 4 miles from the M27,
junction 11 (Fareham turn off). Follow signs (B3334).
Parking: Free next to beach.
Ideal Wind Direction: SW to NW
Suitable For: Intermediates and above.
Water Quality: Guideline Pass.
Closest Accommodation: B&B near by.
Amenities: Toilets, club. tuition
and hire.
Tourist Information: 01705 533944.
|
Lee On Solent. A mile further south
of Hillhead, Lee-on-Solent is a mainly residential area. There's
a neat area of grassland just in front of the shingle beach and
the beach works when there is slightly more N and S in the wind
than at Hillhead. There's a sailing club at the east end of the
beach.
Getting There: As for Hillhead and
continue along the coast road south.
Parking: Sea front
Ideal Wind Direction: SW to NW.
Suitable For: Intermediates.
Water Quality: Mandatory Pass
Closest Accommodation: B&B near by
Amenities: Toilets, club.
Tourist Information: 01705 522944.
|
Stokes Bay Probably the safest place
to sail on this stretch of coast and suitable for beginners. The
ideal wind directions for Stokes Bay are SW and SE which produce
the cleanest wind but can also sailed in anything from E to WNW
The tidal range is small, the most you have to walk to the water
is 10 meters and launching is easy even in very strong winds. It's
a very good place to practice short board technique. The parking
area is right on the beach at the west end of Stokes bay - chargeable
in summer and free at other times. In an E just about every windsurfer
in the area sails from here as the wind funnels between the Isle
of Wight and the mainland. Andy Biggs Windsurfing is half a mile
away and stocks new and second hand equipment Equipment hire is
also available. The shop is open seven days a week (Tel: 01705 582614).
The local pub is the Alverbank Hotel and there's a cafe next to
Stokes Bay SC.
Getting There: junction 11 on M27
then the A32 to Gosport, Look out for signs just outside Gosport
Parking: On beach.
Ideal Wind Direction: NW to SW, E.
Suitable For: All abilities
Water Quality: Fail, unsuitable for
water contact sports
Closest Accommodation: B&B, camping
behind beach at Kingfisher Caravan Park.
Amenities: Toilets, shop, club.
Tourist Information: 01705 522944
|
Poole, Sandbanks On the other side of the Poole Harbour peninsula,
Sandbanks stretches from Haven point to Bournemouth. On hot summer
days the sea breeze can pick up to 20 or even 25 knots. Park and
rig in the main car park on the peninsula which is the most popular
spot as there's a grass area to rig up on. Also park on Beach Road
with direct access to beach but only room for 10 cars.
Getting There: From London take the
M3, then the M27. Follow signs to Bournemouth. Leave the A338 (Wessex
Way) at Liverpool and Victoria / Frizzells Roundabout & head towards
Sandbanks on the B3965 until you reach Banks Road, turn left & follow
signs to Swanage Toll Ferry.
Parking: Pay and display car park
on Poole peninsula.
Ideal Wind Direction: NE - W
Suitable For: Most abilities
Water Quality: Guideline Pass
Accommodation: In town
Amenities: Showers, toilets, cafe
on beach front. |
Bracklesham Bay Just a short distance from East Wittering,
Bracklesham has a much bigger pay and display car park. The sailing
conditions are very similar to East as Bracklesham is an extension
of the beach. Best waves are at low to mid tide with conditions
becoming progressively more difficult as high tide approaches. On
flat water weekends in the summer the beach becomes very busy with
people launching speedboats.
Getting There: From Chichester follow
the signs on the A286/A2179. West Wittering WS Club is signposted
in the village. Continue past both West and East Wittering following
the signs.
Parking: Large car park close to the
beach.
Ideal Wind Direction: West
Suitable For: Intermediates (experts
only at high tide).
Water Quality: Guideline Pass
Accommodation: Holiday parks nearby.
Amenities: Close by in village.
|
Acknowledgement South coast information
taken from Windsurf July 1997 |
|
| Holiday
Checklist |
 |
| Travelling |
Passport (current)
Jabs certificate
Tickets
Board carriage documents
Egyptian pounds (small notes for trolley at airport)
Travellers cheques
English money
Water
Fruit
Sweets
Books
Aspirin (anti-coagulant) |
|
|
| Essential Supplies |
Stoppers (imodium)
Starters (senokot)
Anadin Extra tablets
Lunchtime snacks:
- packet soups
- noodles
- sugar cubes
- tea bags
- coffee (filter cups)
- milk powder
- energy bars
Travel kettle
Electric razor
Mains adaptor
Wide neck thermo flask
Universal sink plug
Strong sunblock
Hand cream
After sun lotion
Nail clippers
Tweezers
Swimming goggles
Camera
First aid stuff
Holiday wash |
|
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| Your Gear |
Boards
Fins and screws/levers
Screwdrivers for fins/footstraps
Sails
Masts
Booms
Harness lines
Boom bumper
Mast protector
UJ
Downhaul helper
Mast extentions
Mast foot (zero extn)
Harness
Boots
Summer wetsuit
Wetsuit arms
Parcel Tape & Duck Tape |
|
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| Attire |
Jeans
Trousers
Shorts
Trainers
Beach shoes
Tee Shirts
Jumpers
Coats
Woolly hat (for England) |
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