South Coast Beach Breaks

Hopefully what's unique about this guide is that most of the reports are written and instigated in the first place by people that have actually been out on the water over time at these locations, or gossip with locals that regularly sail / kite at them - rather than the usual guess at what things might be like brigade! Though to be honest, the majority of reports are based on windsurfing at each of these "spots" as opposed to kitesurfing, so for all you kiters out there, look forward to your comments!

And yes, apologies for concentrating on the UK South Coast, there are notable exceptions such as Poole, Weymouth and Kimmeridge in the South, Saunton and Marazion in the West and other noteworthy venues such as Whitstable, Minster and Sandwich in Kent and a various flat water mud banks in Essex - and noteworthy Hunstanton up near Norfolk.........but as well all know it's so much windier on the Sarf Coast

For each report you'll find relevant information with regard to car parking, rigging space, best times to launch etc etc. What you won't find are directions as to how to get there, as most people are astute enough to read a map!

Remember that the "environment" for each location will change dramatically with both the wind direction and wind speed, couple that with the height and state of the tides, whether it's slack water or not and what might seem a superb location one day could be an absolute nightmare the next - one simple fact, if there are no other people out on the water, when it seems "perfect" - ask yourself "Why ?"

South Coast Beach Breaks
Hover over any red dot for details

Words of Advice:

Sailing Tacks:

It's also worth stating the bl**ding obvious when it comes down to considering a new location: and that is take into account your best tack, are you more proficient at Starboard, as is the case for the majority of south coast sailors, or is Port tack your more preferred option?

In 85% of these locations it will not really matter, but if you happen to take a trip down to one of these locations on a "good" day with a big swell running, nigh on high tide and wind more onshore, then you will have to have your wits about you to get out through the white water and shore break - this can be made even more difficult if you are not on your favourite tack ( Starboard tack = going out with your right hand nearest the mast, Port tack the opposite i.e leading with your left, as in the case of sailing in an Easterly, usually).

This might not sound a big deal, but believe me there are many groups of sailors who will avoid specific coastlines because it means sailing on a different tack - I for one had tremendous problems on a big day in Dingle at Fermoyle, when it looked like an average "big" South Coast day, I had major problems getting out, due to getting speed up over the white water and being (not) able to jump the dumping waves....all down to being on a different tack, Port in that case - all the guys from Alhoa Watersports in Cheshire bend the other way, as it were, relish Port tack and hate, with a passion Starboard!

As for the superstars they spend so much time out on the water at different locations it does not matter to them, they can swing both ways, as it were! That's why the magazines never really consider "favourite tack" as an obstacle to sailing at any one location - try telling that to people that go to Cabarete in the Dominican Republic where it is all Starboard tack!

Coastal Cruising:

Another point for consideration, from Brighton or where ever, it's possible, in a Southerly to go coastal cruising, to Shoreham & beyond, calling in at Lancing, progressing on to Worthing and then Littlehampton if you so wish, but carry a flare or mobile phone and tell people what you are doing, if you decide to go with a couple of mates, it might seem a good idea, but more than two and the odds increase that something will happen to one of you, be it kit failure or of a physical nature. Plus out at sea, you can quickly loose sight of so called "partners" as board / kite speed can open up considerable gaps between each other - oh and tell people on dry land what you are doing - That said once you're out on the water blasting along instead of out to sea, it suddenly seems like a good idea to take a trip along the coast - and what's amazing is how quickly you can sail say from Worthing to Littlehampton, compared to driving! One word of warning off Midleton beach, between Climping & Bognor there are quite considerable sea defenses out to sea these can prove quite awkward to get around depending on the wind direction - it's worth putting a tack in and going out to sea, don't make the mistake of go inside them, as they create huge wind shadow.

Pros & Cons of a Sea Breeze

For the majority of S Coast locations the prevailing wind is from the SW, and even though in the summer the wind might start off in the NE with the local sea breeze kicking you'll find that the wind will swing round to the SW and blow a steady F5+ - though BE CAREFUL if sailing late on a summers evening, as the sea breeze will die as quickly as it kicks in, plus it will swing round offshore to the NW, leaving you with a bit of a swim, or worse still if you get stuck out at sea!

The first signs of the sea breeze dying are pretty obvious, with the wind dropping off, though some persistent "gits" often choose to ignore this, the wind will also start backing round to the west, and finally the NW and drop completely - you have been warned!

Most years people get stuck out at sea, especially mid week having rushed back from work and gone out at about 18:30, they have a good thirty minutes or so and then the wind goes. Last season I dragged in three kitesurfers at Worthing who got it wrong!

Last point: "Who's this written for" ?

If you are a beginner then a lot of the terminology might seem a bit strange - however all these locations can offer suitable conditions if you're learning, as has already been mentioned, it very much depends on a number of factors combining together either to make your day memorable of a nightmare - the same is true for the "experts", a beginners memorable day will be an "experts" nightmare, having driven 60 miles to the coast to sit in the car because there's not enough wind!

Postscript:

Having driven around to all these locations again, some after quite a few years, it is nigh on impossible to say which is the best for whatever reason, that said, what I can say, is that many of the so called key spots are a real hassle to get to - fine if you are a local, but frustrating if you're not - when I was traveling around quite a few years back there were not many pay n'display car parks now they are every where, though to be fair some car parks only charge April - September.

If I had to opt for one location it would be Pagham, due to it being more natural than any other location, not commercial, no tarmac car parks, no manmade sea defenses as such, just natures own....plus the only beach where in the predominant SW you get down the line riding - negative is low tide "ouch".

At the end of the day - if you have a great time out on the water every thing else does not matter!
Windsurfing Guide, Definitive South Coast Beach Guide, Windsurfing Equipment Guide, RRD windsurf and kite boards, Ezzy sails, Gaastra, Neil Pryde, JP Boards, Naish, Mistral, Tushingham, Starboard, windsurf sails, Second hand windsurfing kit, windsurfing