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There are many places to go on the South coast - however some beaches get very busy in the summer months and are best avoided. Also along this strech of coastline the shore break can be very heavy at high tides together with a lot of Groynes in places - best to check the tides and always ask a local if you are not sure-
Hastings Bexhill Pevensey Bay Eastbourne Newhaven Brighton Shoreham Lancing Worthing/ Goring Currently there are about 70 local riders that kite at Goring green.
Kite launching and landing is advised to be done on the green rather than on the beach.
setup your gear 300 yards east of sea lane cafe where the green widens.
We are trying to encourage kiters to keep to a smaller area, so that the locals dont moan.
We are in the proccess of forming a club. there is a local website. www.tiedtothewind.com
where you can find info, pics and safety. Kiters that are new to goring are advised to read the safety bit on our forum. http://com4.runboard.com/bbneleven.f6.t118.
You can Kite at goring on a low tide but it is not advised if you are a beginner, as good kite control is needed for the long walks across the flint beds and at high tide there are groynes and nasty chop.
Landboarding/Buggying is not permitted by law on the green but is done by a few locals, we dont want to encourage it.
Complete begginers are advised to go to lancing on a low tide at least until they can ride upwind, bodydrag .
There is a local weather station just 500mtrs from the green giving live wind readings.
If the wind is from the West it is best to assume the wind could be upto 5knts stronger once off shore.
Kiters comming to goring should bring all their kites with them as often they look at the weather cam, and only bring one kite for the conditions at that time. By late after noon the winds get stronger and we see many kiters putting 12mtr up when its gone to 9mtr weather. Littlehampton Littlehampton, West Sussex as a good site for all standards of kitesurfer.
Contact for info on tide and general info : Andy at Airhead on 01903 850831 or Email:
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a new face is always welcome on the beachwhere we all help each other.
Bognor Witterings ‘For a long time West Wittering beach has been a favourite amongst windsurfers and kitesurfers. The unspoilt, rural bliss of the surrounding area easily earns the place its reputation as one of the best beaches in the UK. It’s amazing really that you can find such a place just over an hour’s drive from London.
The range of conditions and spectacular open space on the beach means that windsurfers and kitesurfers from complete beginner to addicted wave-head can benefit from wonderful, non-gusty winds. The beach is sandy and the water is clean, there is no shorebreak at any state of tide and you have all the space in the world to perfect that new manoeuvre or just sail about taking in the scenery. Being on the edge of the South Downs and Chichester Harbour, this really is a fantastic part of the world. Lose yourself in a walk along the sand dunes at East Head, gorge yourself on a bbq or just sit on the beach and take in the view, this place is not only for those that like to go in the water.
West Wittering Windsurf Club is organised for windsurfers and kitesurfers by windsurfers and kitesurfers. It gives its members year round easy access to this great place as well as a brand new club house where they can hang out, shelter from the elements, have a second office with the new wireless internet and have a nice hot shower, in the brand new showers, before driving home. Add to that the top quality instruction from www.xtrain.co.uk, free social events and the new hire and demo centre and you would be mad not to join the place. West Wittering Windsurf Club is a BKSA recognised club. Please note, all Kitesurfers must be a member of West Wittering Windsurf Club in order to go out on the water’
Hayling
A large sandy beach with a view of the Isle of Wight. It has a large spit [1.5mile long] which is uncovered at low tide. The best kitesurfing is had 2hrs either side of low tide, when the spit offers shelter from the waves.
The spit often leaves huge areas of water as flat as a mill pond in 15mph+ brilliant for blasting.
Wind Direction: NW,SW,W, SE,E
Restrictions:
BKSA Affiliated club, membership to the BKSA and Hayling Kitesurfing Association required all year round. Club membership can be purchased on the BKSA website more club info can be found at www.hka.org.uk Hillhead Isle of Wight Christchurch Bournemouth/ Poole Please note there is not a kite surfing ban in Poole Harbour, but In order to minimise this risk, some restrictive measures are necessary. The following rules are in force - Kite Surfing is not allowed in the Harbour Entrance or any of the main shipping channels between the Bar Buoy and the Turning Basin at the Ferry Port. Sites on the south coast in a N.E. wind.
You want to go down to Sandbanks, Poole. That gives you a nice cross-shore and the beach does not shelve too much. Watch out for the wind being further around to the North as you then end up with off-shore winds. In the Bournemouth/Poole area, we can go in the sea any direction from NE, through S, round to W. Muddeford Christchurch harbour seems OK for the rest. Poole Harbour seems OK for SW - NW. Check out WindFreaks local site with loads of info on it !
Weymouth and Porland Portland Harbour
Weymouth and Portland kitesurf club have introduced a similar system to identify members, they are issuing Orange bands as in the picture, which are available as a year or half year. Membership costs £25 or £15 (half year 1st July-31st Dec) These are available if you join the club via the BKSA website or if you visit Paracademy Kitesurf School. You can ride in Portland Harbour if you are not a member – however you will require to pay Harbour dues – which you can do at Windtek, Portland Road and Paracademy at Victoria Square Portland. You will require 3rd party Liability Insurance - £ 2 million and be a minimum of Level 2 riding. Charges are £2 / day or £6/week you will then be issued with a yellow band. This system was introduced with the negotiation of the local club and the Harbour Authority and safeguards kitesurfing at Portland Harbour for the coming year. The Harbour is private property and is the jurisdiction of Portland Harbour Authority – please respect their instructions. www.wpksc.co.uk Exmouth EXMOUTH has some of the most varied kitesurf conditions in the world. Waves, flat water, strong tide (moving at over 7 knots) providing awesome wind against tide conditions. In addition, Exmouth offers an unrivalled teaching/ learning location on nearly any wind direction. For beginners/intermediates seeking the safe haven of an estuary like the Exe has (with advice!), the duck pond offers this. An area located in the estuary provides shallow flat water ideal for grasping basic skills. So, what are the drawbacks of Exmouth? Local knowledge is a must. Exmouth works best within a relatively narrow window, where wind direction, tidal state and local weather conditions all play their part. To get the best of Exmouth requires some good planning.
The 'Duck Pond'
This works best on a North Westerly (the wind funnels from the direction of Exeter and cleans up as it comes down the Estuary). Plan your kiteboarding to avoid disappointment: arrive 2-3 hours before high tide (except neap tides). The Duck Pond has good parking and a green where you can prepare your kit, then you can walk up the Estuary and launch from one of the sand banks, giving yourself an upwind advantage and space.
It is possible to launch from the green and many people do this: but it is best to plan your trip and arrive early and get the best of the tide - conditions are much better when the tide is on the push and still fairly shallow. If you don't plan your trip you are forced to launch on the grass, navigate through parked cars, hop over a fence - down a slip way, then start power stroking with your kite over land with a wall facing you - a recipe for a kitemare and worse. The Seafront This where the Exe meets the sea. The main sailing area is sheltered by a massive sandbank which keeps the swell at bay and provides excellent flat water conditions. For those who seek a wave it is possible to get on the back of the sandbar and get some wave action. A deep channel (which runs very fast) runs alongside the narrow beach backed by a road. This area is for experienced kiters only. It is possible to kite on the seafront on any state of tide, but it definitely works best on a dropping tide about 2/3 hours before low water, This is when the sandbank comes up and the channel starts running very flat - helping stay upwind in lighter conditions and allows constant practicing of tricks without slipping down wind. But, drop your kite and be ready for a struggle. Works best on a Southerly / South Easterly and East/South East. This is when clean wind comes in off the sea and is on shore. South West works but is gusty.
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