Poole Harbour

The waters around Poole offer some great kitesurfing conditions - whether you are learning to kite or wanting epic sea conditions.

Whitley Bay (or inside harbour) offers ideal learning conditions with the water never being much more than waist height. Rig and launch up wind near the Sanbanks Hotel.

If you are looking to stretch yourself - Sandbanks beach offers amazing conditions in the right wind directions. Kite from the main Sandbanks car park or move down the beach towards Bournemouth and surf behind the Sandbanks Hotel or further down towards Branksome.

SW through to North  are about the only wind directions

Smooth to chop

If you do venture further afield, the deep water channel is very busy with traffic - most of it of the gin palace variety, with the occasional Sea Cat or car ferry thrown in for good measure. If you get in their way, they won't see you or feel a thing when they run over you. Don't try to assert your right of sail having priority over power!

The deep water channel gets very choppy, & the currents are stronger here.

Keep well away from the harbour entrance & the chain ferry.

Also be aware of launching to close to the road

Sandbanks

Sandbanks is situated on the open sea-side of Poole Harbour, which makes it a great place to make the step to kitesurfing  in open ocean. The conditions suit all levels of kitesurfing with the conditions favouring freeride and bump and jump.

Wave riding can be had on the beach break (a sandy bottom), which is good for learner wave sailors or alternatively for the more adventurous Hook Sands can be entertained. Hook Sands work best between mid to low tide and can produce some excellent waves for jumping and riding, which will usually be bigger than the waves breaking on the beach. At times where the conditions seem hopeless, a change in tide can come up the goods.

S, NE, SSW

Small waves. Wave breakers. If you go further north, you will find areas without wave breakers.

On the Purbeck side of Hook Sands is a shipping lane, that should be avoided if possible. Also, if you decide to venture out to Hook Sands it is best to take some spare rope and also a chum - it's a long way out!

Mudeford

This is a sandy beach break which produces long rides on a good SW groundswell but blows out easily. Ideal for beginners except at high tide when backwash from cliffs can be exciting.

S through to SE

Smooth to Small Waves

Other Beachusers

Branksome Chine

Branksome is used primarily as a wave riding spot.

SW

Flat to choppy water with small waves.

There's a swimmers safe area net in the summer months which reduces the beach area that can be used.