Here on the south coast of the uk, you will find some of the best wing foiling spots offering everything from flat water waves
Every spot has its pros and cons, with wind directions, tides and local conditions playing a big part in how suitable they are for the differing levels of wing foiler. Let’s list out some of the best spots below:
Hayling Island
Hayling Island has long been known as the mecca for windsurfing on the south coast of England in Hampshire. As an island, it offers varied conditions from waves to flat water that is perfect for beginners to advanced wing foilers and wing surfers.
The West Beach or better known as Inn on the Beach pub is on the beach front and is where the main launch is for wing foiling. You’ll get a mix of waves, ground swell or flat water, depending on the wind direction and tide.
The Hayling Island Sailing Club gives access to the harbour in a sheltered corner, but it is worth noting that there’s lots of boat traffic, super strong currents with the tide and underwater obstables that you really need to know about.
The protected waters offer Langstone Harbour, which is on the west side of Hayling Island. It has a tiny car park right on the waters edge. The water here is flat to choppy and all round is safe. There is a tiny inner bay, but it a bit too shollow to use a foil safely, so it’s worth heading out past the bar, but again be aware of how shallow that is and you may need to get off the board and walk it over.
Eastoke Beach faces out to sea on the east side of the island. It’s another great place to sail offering choppy to waves. You will find a strong inbound and outbound current depending on the state of tide, but sailing off the main beach, off to the right will find slacker water.
On the east side you have the inner waters, which lead to Thorney Island. This area offers flat water and clean winds. There are a few launch points either side of the Langstone bridge.
Poole Harbour
The harbour has so many amazing spots to wing foil in flat sheltered waters, providing long reaches that is much like an adventure playground for wing foilers. As a learner spot there are plenty of places to start getting your first flights in shollower waters. You will find a few shops and schools in the area, so lessons and kit is readily available.
Hamworthy Beach Park has a masssive sheltered water area right in front of the grassy rigging area, which is right by the car park.
For open water and waves you’ve need to walk through to Sandbanks Beach. This offers some great conditions, looking out to Old Harry Rocks or down to the Isle of Wight and Bournemouth.
Rockley Park is at the inner end of the harbour and is another great place to go winging. It is situated in a caravan park, with a launch area, club house and school.
Weymouth
There’s a lot to offer in Weymouth for watersports and wing foiling, with a huge beach, deep water and clean winds. The is a large watersports centre, with a retail shop and training facilities as well.
With numerous launch spots along the beach front, you have access to a huge flat water bay and waves on the south facing side:
Portland Harbour is protected by the breakwater and offers a huge flat water foiling spot. Launching up at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy end of Portland Road, you have access to a purpose made launch spot. The OTC shop and training centre is also based here.
If you are looking for open, rougher water, the head over the Portland Rd to Chesil Beach. Just be aware of the make up of this beach and the difficulty that may be had getting in and out of the water due to the steepnes and pebbles.
Weymouth Bay has plenty of options for foiling, but the angle to the wind and swell shifts and the water become rougher compared to Portland Harbour.
The Solent
This big area of water, is the divide between the Isle of Wight and the mainland, south coast of england. With a large number of beaches all along the coastline, you’ll find flat waterspots, wave sailing, downwind runs,estuaries sheltered bays, harbours. There are plenty of watersports schools, retail shops and board repair shops
Bracklesham Bay is our own home spot for waves and open water foiling, whilst we also have Chichester Harbour, where we spend time flat water wing foiling and teaching our wing foiling lessons.
West Wittering is a goof spot for wing foiling, especially off of East Head, out into the harbour mouth, when a swell is running.
Further west you have Hill Head. Being deeper n the Solent, you don’t get swell here, but a messy chop, so you need to be comfortable sailing in messier waters. There’s plenty of parking, especially in the off season.
One of my favourite places is Pagham. With plenty of parking, you have plenty of options to launch. The shore dump can be pretty evil when it is super windy and a big swell, so look along the beach in a westerly direction to get more sheltered launch and landing options.
Bournemouth
Looking out from the main beach you can foil in westerly of easterly direction. You have some piers dotted along the coastline, with options for flat and waves.
The main beach, by Bournemouth Pier is a large sandy launch so lots of space to rig up and get out into flat water conditions or waves, depending on the wind direction.
If you’re looking for a more sheltered spot, the head along to Durely Chine as this offers a bit more protection when the winds are stronger.
If you’re after waves, the both Avon and Boscombe Beach can kick up a decent wave for some surf foiling or wing foiling.
