Travel

You may have heard of Sandbanks, in Poole, Dorset before? Probably not because of its great windsurfing but more likely because of the hype & fame surrounding its multi-million pound properties that line Poole Harbour & the Sandbanks peninsular. Maybe you have even heard of the world class fine sandy beaches that stretch for 7 miles from Sandbanks all the way past Bournemouth, Boscombe & on to Hengistbury Head.

More importantly than any of the above is that it is an amazingly good windsurfing location! The actual main place for Sandbanks windsurfing is in Poole Harbour. Literally, a stones throw across the Sandbanks peninsular, Poole Harbour offers an exceptional location to learn to windsurf. For more detail on what exactly makes the Sandbanks area such a great UK windsurfing location have a read of another post called Our local windsurfing spot – Poole Harbour. Basically, for those looking to take beginners windsurfing lessons there really isn’t a better place to learn to windsurf than in Poole Harbour. At Poole Windsurfing we teach in the safe, shallow waters of Poole Harbour & combined with the latest windsurfing equipment, learning is a smooth & enjoyable process! Even for students that have learnt the basics elsewhere have been amazed at how much better it is to windsurf with us in Poole Harbour. Intermediate windsurfing skills such as beach starts & harness are quickly learn when you can choose the depth of water you windsurf in, knowing that when you fall in or need a break you can just stand up & recover! With a gradual shelving seabed there is nowhere quite like Poole Harbour for progressing your beachstarts into the advanced windsurfing skill of waterstarts. When trying your 1st few waterstarts just out of your depth, if you don’t make it the wind will quickly drift you back into shallower water where you can do a chest deep beach start.

The sandbanks windsurfing location is unique because of the close proximity of both windsurfing in a protected coastal location, Poole Harbour & that of the open sea, Sandbanks and the 7 mile stretch of beach. This means you can learn to windsurf on beginners windsurfing lessons & progress through the intermediate windsurfing stages in the safety of Poole Harbour. When your skills have be well practiced you can then start to venture out on the sea front to make the most of the wind & waves at one of the many great windsurfing locations along this stretch of the UK’s coastline.

Even for the advanced windsurfer, coming back into Poole Harbour can be a really good way to master those carve gybes or freestyle tricks such as Volcans, Spocks, Grubby’s, etc. You just choose the depth of water to windsurf in so, whenever you crash you can stand there & figure out what went wrong, catch your breath and just hop straight back on your board. The fact that you are within your own depth makes learning new windsurfing moves so much faster!

Sandbanks windsurfing is some of the best the UK has to offer – hope to see you here!

OK, so we all know the UK has it’s limitations when it comes to getting out on the water but when it comes to great windsurfing locations UK based, you really can’t beat our local patch, Poole Harbour…

It really does have something for all windsurfing ability levels from beginners through to advanced freestylers! Ok, let me explain. Poole harbour is an enclosed coastal location that works on many different wind directions: south, south west, west & north west are all a variation of cross to cross on shore winds. The beauty of this top UK windsurfing location is that the harbour gradually shelves from ankle deep to over head high water; you pick your desired depth & pretty much know that whenever you jump (or fall) off you will be at that same level of water & if you go anywhere it will be being blown into shallower water by the wind! This is great not just for beginners windsurfing lessons but also for those looking to master a specific module of windsurfing, such as beach starts, progressing to waterstarts or even mastering those carve gybes!

Progress is fast when you are somewhere that when you make a mistake and fall in you can just get straight back on your board without too much loss of energy! This also applies to those looking to get into or master the world of windsurfing freestyle. A few hours either side of low tide is actually the best time to get there and practice your freestyle moves. Either side of absolute low tide is when the water is at its flattest, prefect freestyle conditions with loads of space & smooth water!

Advanced Windsurfing Freestyle!

There is a specially designated area of the harbour that is only for watersports users, giving us all loads of open space to blast around & not worry about hitting any boats! The effective season for windsurfing in Poole Harbour is from May through to October. You can go outside of these months but it will be damn cold & only for the truly dedicated (or mad).

If you are thinking of leaving the safety of the harbour, we have many great spots all along the coast from Sandbanks all the way past Branksome, Bournmeouth, Boscombe & on to Hengistbury Head. These all work on slightly different wind directions as you move around the famous 7 mile stretch of beach. Beyond that you have the wave spot of Kimmeridge Bay. In the other direction you have Avon Beach in Chrischurch.

Basically there are no excuses you should be coming to train your windsurfing skills in the No 1 for windsurfing locations UK based, Poole Harbour & if you need some help give us a call at Poole Windsurfing on 01202 237247 & we can get you up to speed with some lessons, hire or just a few words of advice & encouragement!

OK, so the summer is drawing to a close, its getting too cold to motivate yourself to get out on the water but you still feel like you need more of a windsurfing fix. The answer is to go into intensive training mode, on a trip to Dahab, Egypt…or at least that’s what I did!

Beginners windsurfing to advanced freestyle Dahab, Egypt!

Picture this, 28c in the air & the same in the sea, then add perfect wind for all levels & super flat water. Unfortunately there is always a chance this ‘usually windy place’ just doesn’t deliver & during my end of UK summer time windsurf trip we only got a few days of strong winds.

This really has been abnormal condition out in Dahab for this time of year. The locals were saying they haven’t seen it like this in 10 years! Not what I really wanted to hear but it is good to know that the chances are next year should hopefully be back to normal!

When does work, the usual wind pattern goes like this: strong wind builds over night to give great improver & advanced windsurfing conditions from early morning through to lunch time. As the air temperature rises during the day the wind calms to give great conditions for beginners windsurfing. This & the fact it is always 30c with clear sky make Dahab, Egypt an amazing place for all levels of windsurfers to go. Mixed ability groups/couples can go here with the confidence that everyone will get some great water time that will really boost their windsurfing ability.

Next year we may even run a trip out to Dahab for all our students to continue progressing their windsurfing skills & prolong the summer feeling! Details will be posted on our Windsurfing Holidays page

Windsurfing holiday destination for 2010 - Dahab, Egypt

We should be in a position to offer a great discount price specially for all our students so keep checking back for more info!

Well, maybe it was too good to be true. Having been out in Dahab, Egypt for just coming up 1 week there has been a big fat ZERO days of wind! On the other hand back home in Poole Harbour I believe there has been a good few days of breeze! Out here in Dahab, the normal pattern of cooler nights creating a strong offshore wind in the morning just hasn’t been happening for a few weeks now! In fact, we have been having just the reverse weather pattern out here. An onshore wind that starts light in the morning & builds with a sea breeze in the afternoon, much as we get back home on a nice summers day.

All this doesn’t exactly make for epic windsurf training ground right now but it has helped me to explain to you what to look out for when planning a windsurfing trip out to Dahab, Egypt.

Next week is looking to go back to normal & I should be able to report on how the windsurfing out here compares to good old Poole Harbour. I am hoping that we get enough water time to give a low down on how the conditions are for carve gybes & advanced windsurf freestyle.

Keeping checking back & in the meantime at least we are getting 30c with sun everyday & some pretty amazing sunsets – check it out…

Beginners windsurfing lesson finishing at sunset in Dahab, Egypt

Summer is drawing to a close, the water is getting cold & its getting harder to motivate yourself to get out on the water. This is the perfect time to consolidate your summer of windsurfing with a dedicated trip somewhere warm & windy.

I have a trip planned to Dahab, Egypt in a week or so & plan to give you all the low down on just what you can expect out of a late, late summer windsurfing trip.

It is billed as a top location for cracking those long awaited carve gybes (for which someone in my group will be able to give a first hand report on) plus a mecca for windsurfing freestyle moves (check out my up-coming posts on learning how to land a SPOCK)

Transfer time is not too bad compared to other destinations, its relatively cheap to go at this time of year, the weather is still warm & wind should still be blowing. It all looks to be adding up to a no-brainer windsurf trip!

Once I am back I will give a full report on everything, from how easy it is to travel there, what the location is like & most importantly how good the windsurfing is!