Hayling Island, Hampshire

Brief intro: For some, especially those who started windsurfing in the 80’s, Hayling Island is possibly the UK’s spiritual home of windsurfing. Some will remember the Hayling Force 10 picture that got published in one of the first magazines. Hayling offers a huge variety of sailing conditions from flat water; perfect for learning in the summer, flat (ish) blasting to nu-skool freestyle to decent waves.

Working in wind from E through W and offering many different wind, tide and wave conditions makes Hayling one of the most varied locations on the south coast.

Beach faces: S/SW

Best wind direction: SW to W

Best direction for waves: S though SW kicks up a good swell and a few days of SW gales keeps the swell up. If is then goes round to W/SW or W it can give awesome conditions. E/SE on a mid to low tide can give some surprisingly good stunt ramps on the sandbar that are a fun size and not too challenging.

Not good: NW to N to NE, though it is possible to sail in a NW if it is strong enough and the tide is right.

Tide: Mid to low tide is good. Tide on the push can give great waves on the bar. As the tide comes up it can give OK waves on the inside.

What’s on the bottom: Sand. At high tide there are a few metres of shingle.

Any hazards?: Groynes downwind of the launch area have a magnetic effect at high tide. The shore break on a big high tide can be pretty big as the shingle beach shelves steeply. Only very competent sailors should attempt to sail on super windy days with high tides. Though if you are prepared for the tide to recede then it isn’t too much of a problem. Pagham and Wittering work better in these conditions and they are only half an hour away from Hayling.

Other water users: There are plenty of kitersurfers mainly when the wind is lighter or the sea is flatter. There is on the odd occasion a jet skier. There are plenty of swimmers and tourists in the summer.

Suitability/levels: Beginners all the way through to hard core wave heads sailing in the middle of the winter.

Wipeout factor: Sailing a big day on the sandbar can be intimidating as the bar is a long way out. If you break something then it is a very long swim. There are plenty of tides and currents so you should be wearing a decent wetsuit and be confident at self-rescue. Sailing the inside isn’t so bad just be careful of the shore break launching and coming back to the beach at high tide.

Instruction: West Beach Watersports, beginner to advanced coaching Tel. 07905 283869

Kit Hire: Seasonal kit hire from Andy Biggs Shop Tel. 02392 467755, info@andybiggs.co.uk

Friendly factor: Hayling is a super friendly beach with people always introducing themselves. There is a good group of local sailors who are good fun to sail with.

No wind alternatives: There is a private golf course behind the beach which you can pay a daily green fee. Shopping at Chichester or even Southampton.

Surfable?: Maybe, but it’s a long, long paddle out to the break on the sandbar. If there is a wave on the inside sandbar it is surfable, but it is small and probably best with a long board.

East Wittering gets the best waves (25mins drive to the east)

Facilities:

Accommodation: Campsite near by, you pass it on the way to the beach

Local hotshots: Jan Sleigh is probably the most local sailor who competes but the beach is frequented by lots of really hot sailors regardless of whether they compete or not (Clyde Waite, Stuart Holland, Billie Wheaton, Jamie Hay, Jamie Hancock, Helen Cartwright, Paul Hunt, Tom Buggy, to name a few)

Local knowledge/secrets: Mid to low tide works best at this beach. S/SW gales push up a good swell especially after a few days of wind. If is goes more westerly in the same few days it can be epic. A SE or E can push up some surprisingly clean but small waves on the sandbar when everywhere else is flat.

Extra: Hayling is near other good beaches so if it isn’t quite right at Hayling you can always check out Pagham, the Witterings, or Hill Head.

How to get there: From the North follow the A3 down to the A27 and from East or West find your way onto the A27. Hayling is at the turn off for Havant and Hayling Island, which sits half way between Chichester in the East and Portsmouth in the West. After you’ve taken the turn off for Hayling Island from the A27, go south following signs for Hayling. You’ll go over a bridge onto the island. The first turn off to the left after the bridge is to Northerney Marina and Shore Watersports. Follow the main round south down the island until you come to a small roundabout. Take a right turn and follow this road to another roundabout with a fun park in front of you. Go right here. Then follow this road (passing Andy Biggs on your right) until you come to the Beachlands turnoff to the left. Take this and you are at the beach. Go as far right as you can along the beach and park in the car park. Launch anywhere here.

Report by: Jan Sleigh

Jan is sponsored by: Naish Boards & Sails, O’Neill Wetsuits, Reef, Lava eyewear, Hyperdestiny marketing, Senate Partners management consulting, IBG ecommerce & web solutions.

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Adrian Jones

Jan at Hayling

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Photos by: Breezyday.co.uk