SPOT GUIDE

Portland Harbour is a fantastic wing foiling location, particularly if you want to ride fast on flat water.

It’s a legendary speed sailing spot, the spit shelters the water making it mill pond flat even on a westerly.

Getting There

Easy to access by car, parking at Chesil beach car park.

Overview

If you come from a windsurfing or kitesurfing background you’ll know this spot well, hosting many national Watersports events like BKSA, Speed Week, University Kite Weekenders and some international events …..like the Olympics.

The main thing you’ll need to know about this spot and what you don’t see in all the photos of people riding really fast with goggles on…. is that HARBOUR AUTHORITY PERMITS are mandatory.

Let’s talk permits.

To Wing Foil in Portland Harbour a Portland Harbour Authority Permit is required – you must also have 3rd party insurance and be competent enough to do a Deep Water Pack Down (easy without a bar & lines) and get yourself back to shore.

You must also be able to avoid huge ships:

To purchase Permits, you can download an application form from the harbour website and buy permits online – by clicking on the link below:

https://www.portland-port.co.uk/buy-online

It’s a kitesurfing permit but also covers you for windsurfing/foiling, SUP and kayak activities in the harbour.  So you can be like Kai Lenny and bring everything to the beach with you.

Daily, weekly and monthly permits are also available to purchase from local retailers:

• 109 Watersports
• Flow Boardsports
• Weymouth Watersports

Local Customs

If you miss the car park on Chesil Beach and end up on Isle of Portland do not under any circumstances say the word ‘Rabbit’ to anyone.

It’s a thing https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/5410213.sssh-please-dont-mention-the-r-word/

Rider Experience Levels

Suitable for the following levels:

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Advanced (flat water)

Lessons

Lessons are available from the Official Test Centre https://otc-watersports.com/wingfoiling/

Live Wind

The spot benefits from its own wind guru station so you can check conditions before you leave home.

Live Weather Station: https://coastalmonitoring.org/realtimedata/?chart=96

Wind Forecast

Tide Times