Poole Harbour Windsurfing Guide
General info
Windsurfing ratings
Poole Harbour Gallery
Poole Harbour is the world's second largest natural harbour and is a great family windsurfing location. The safe and shallow waters also make it a great location to learn amongst the picturesque surroundings. The harbour is a very good location for kitesurfing and windsurfing amongst other water sports and can be used during all tides unlike nearby Christchurch harbour.
There are four main spots around the harbour: Hamworthy Park nearer Wareham, Evening Hill and Shore Road in the western end opposite FC Watersports. You can windsurf Poole Harbour in all wind directions but head to Evening hill in W or NW winds; Shore Road in W or SW; and try Hamworthy Park in anything from SE - NW.
There are plenty of shops and tuition centres in this area to use as well, so if you are getting in to windsurfing or kitesurfing for the first time there is also everything you need fairly nearby.
Features
Tide state is not so much of an issue in Poole Harbour like it can be for other shallower harbours so windsurfing can be had all day long, although high to mid tide is preferrable. Keep an eye on the Bigsalty Wind and Bigsalty Beginner forecast ratings on the forecats page. These will tell you when it is likely to be good to hit the water.
For those windsurfers and kitesurfers living Christchurch way, Poole Harbour can be an alternative if the tide is low in Christchurch Harbour and there is not enough water.
Considerations
There is a shipping lane that it is best to avoid nearer the middle of the harbour, but also give yachts and boats a wide berth.