The report · Portland Harbour · Kite · October · 6 pages

WindChaserSpot report

Dorset, United Kingdom

Portland Harbour

KiteOctober

76% of October days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.

01Hour-by-hour & month-by-month windp202The month's own recordsp303Stays, the school & kitp404Per-launch tide notesp405The exclusion zone, dues & shippingp506Getting there, packing & best monthsp507Sources, and their limitsp6
Guide
Compiled by WindChaser
27 Sep 2026Record
2022 to 2026, hourly
Open-Meteo, Météo-France AROME France HD 1.5 kmNormals
2022 to 2026
Three Octobers
Portland Harbour · Kite · October · Generated 22 Oct 2026 from the 2022 to 2026 record1 of 6
01

Hour-by-hour & month-by-month wind

Rideable-day share by month, all three sports

Share of days with three or more daylight hours over each sport's threshold, counted from the record at 12 kt, Windsurf 13 kt and Wing 12 kt.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecKite687968734668686971768383Windsurf657462654264566563708181Wing687968734668686971768383

Blue fill scales with the share. Selected month outlined. Threshold per row: Kite 12 kt · Windsurf 13 kt · Wing 12 kt.

Where the wind sits, October

Share of daylight hours in each speed band, blue above the threshold.

4–7
8–11
12–15
16–19
20–23
24–27
28–31

Not drawn: 5% of daylight hours under 4 kt.

When in the day, October

Share of days over 12 kt at each daylight hour.

8am
9
10
11
12pm
1pm
2
3
4
5
6pm
Wind directionSWThe prevailing wind, per the harbour authority. The harbour works in every direction, and an easterly brings small waves.
Wind strength18 to 20 ktThe mean over rideable daylight hours in the season months (September to February, and April), 17.5 to 20.1 kt in the record.
When it blowsAll dayIn the season months the share of windy days moves by no more than 11 points from 8am to 6pm. Summer builds towards the afternoon.

Rideable hours, not all hours. Every wind figure in this report is the mean over hours above the threshold.

Portland Harbour · Kite · October · Generated 22 Oct 2026 from the 2022 to 2026 record2 of 6
02

October's own records

The month's own figures from three Octobers in the record, 2022 to 2026. Not the year's average.

Rideable days24 of 31Three Octobers in the record
Wind, rideable hours18 ktMean over daylight hours at 12 kt+
Air15.2°CMaximum
Hours over 12 kt8.4 a dayDaylight, all days averaged
BeforeSeptember71%21 rideable days in 30
Your monthOctober76%24 rideable days in 31
AfterNovember83%25 rideable days in 30

What the percentage hides. A month at 80% can be twenty-four steady days or three windy weeks broken by a dead front.

Portland Harbour · Kite · October · Generated 22 Oct 2026 from the 2022 to 2026 record3 of 6
03

Stays, the school & kit

Stays

WPNSA campervan pitches$··Van pitch · At the launchVan pitches at the academy for members, event entrants, training and partner courses. Toilets and showers, vans up to 8 m. Launching and harbour dues are not included.
RYA Portland HouseLodge · 700 m from WPNSA · Kit storageThe RYA’s own accommodation at Osprey Quay, built for the London 2012 Olympics, with twin, triple and family rooms, a large store for bikes and sailing kit, and free parking with room for trailers. Open to RYA members only.
The BunkerHostel · 900 m from WPNSA · BudgetA bunk and breakfast in Victoria Square with 18 beds in six private bunk rooms, each with its own shower. Chesil Beach is across the road and the harbour a few minutes’ walk.
Crabbers’ WharfApartments · 850 m from WPNSANine self-catering apartments for two to eight on the water in Portland Harbour, just off the marina, each with two parking spaces. WPNSA lists it as offering a discount to people at its events.
Chesil Beach Holiday ParkHoliday park · 2.2 km from WPNSAA Waterside holiday park of caravans on Portland Road, Weymouth, just before the causeway to Portland, looking out over Chesil Beach. Open 13 March to 2 November 2026.

Lessons

The OTCSchool · Windsurf · WingRYA recognised centre at WPNSA. Windsurf from the complete beginner, from age 8, up to six per instructor, and wing courses.

Kit

The OTCRental · Windsurf · WingWindsurf and wing hire by the hour at WPNSA, with a shop on site.

Price band $ to $$$ only where sourced; none shown means none held. Contact details and brands stocked join this table when the operator directory is connected.

04

Per-launch tide notes

WPNSA, Osprey Quay
Low—Mid—High—

The OTC says there is enough water at any tide state. Hours per tide state unknown until tide data arrives.

Ferrybridge and Hamm Beach
Low—Mid—High—

Kiters are urged to take extra care in an easterly at high water on spring tides. Hours per tide state unknown until tide data arrives.

Chesil car park
Low—Mid—High—

No tide information found for this launch.

Tide data not yet available for this spot. The record holds wind, air and waves, not tide. Until a tide source is connected, the tables above stay empty rather than estimated. What the guide says about tide is on the next page, in words.

Portland Harbour · Kite · October · Generated 22 Oct 2026 from the 2022 to 2026 record4 of 6
05

The exclusion zone, dues & shipping

Every hazard on the spot page, repeated here in full. Read this before you get wet.

Conditions change. Check local rules and conditions before you ride.

Seasonal exclusion zoneNo windsurf board, or board powered by a kite, wing or sail, may be operated in the exclusion zone off Hamm Beach while the orange windsock on the New Channel Beacon and the red and yellow swim buoy lines marking its north and south boundaries are deployed. This is normally June to September. Failure to comply is an offence and offenders may be prosecuted.
Kitesurfing permitBefore operating a surfboard or similar vessel powered by a kite anywhere in Portland Harbour, at any time, a person must hold a Portland Harbour Kitesurfing Permit, which denotes that the holder has insurance, a competency statement and has paid the relevant dues. The permit tag must be displayed while kitesurfing. Kitesurfing instruction may only be given by the schools the direction names, within areas the harbour authority approves. Failure to comply is an offence and offenders may be prosecuted.
Harbour duesPort and harbour dues apply to windsurfers, wing surfers and all foiling variants. For a craft up to 3.05 m the 2026 tariff is GBP 5.05 a day, GBP 11.15 a week, GBP 14.90 for 28 days, GBP 30.70 for the season (1 April to 31 October) or GBP 43.60 for the year, VAT included. Kitesurfers need the specific kitesurfing permit.
Working portA small vessel, meaning any vessel under 20 metres however propelled, must not hamper the safe passage of a vessel over 20 metres long that is in, entering or leaving a fairway or under way in the inner harbour. When commercial or naval vessels are transiting or manoeuvring in the inner harbour, small vessels must keep clear at all times. Small vessels passing the East Ship Channel are strongly recommended to stay at least 0.5 nautical miles from Fort Head. Port traffic signals are shown on Fort Head and C Head.
EmergenciesIn an emergency dial 999, or 112 from a mobile, and ask for the Coastguard.
Ferrybridge, easterlies and potsThe water moving under the Ferrybridge in and out of the Fleet Lagoon can be fast and catch users unaware, and fast water can run on after the high and low water times. Take care crossing the New Channel at Ferrybridge. Kiters are urged to take extra care in an easterly at high water on spring tides. Give pot and net markers a wide berth, and be aware of cold water shock.
Pots, nets and closed areas

Give pot and net markers a wide berth. Vessels are prohibited from the commercial dockyard controlled area and from Bincleaves harbour in the north-east corner. No source read describes the bottom at the launches: look from the shore before you launch.

The Ferrybridge, the New Channel and shipping

The water moving under the Ferrybridge in and out of the Fleet Lagoon can be fast and catch users unaware, and fast water can run on after the high and low water times. The harbour authority advises caution when crossing the New Channel at Ferrybridge. Ships use the East and North entrances, and traffic lights control the East Ship Channel. A small vessel must not hamper a ship in a fairway or under way in the inner harbour, and must keep clear while commercial or naval vessels are moving there. The seasonal exclusion zone off Hamm Beach applies while its windsock and buoy lines are deployed, normally June to September.

06

Getting there, packing & best months

Nearest airportBournemouth (BOH)About 67 km by road, around 63 minutes. Exeter (EXT) is about 89 km, around 88 minutes.
SeasonSeptember to February, and AprilThe seven months the record shows the most rideable days, each at seven days in ten or more. December is the pick, November close behind; May is the one weak month.
Getting aroundTrain, then roadRail to Weymouth, then 6.8 km, about 11 minutes by road to WPNSA. Day visitors park in the main car park opposite the academy building.
What to pack
WaterMostly flat. Flat water inside the breakwaters in the prevailing south-westerly. Small waves in an easterly.TideAny state. The harbour authority says the harbour works at all tides. Mind the current under the Ferrybridge.Cold waterBe ready. The harbour authority’s advice to leisure users warns of cold water shock.LaunchPay dues first. Harbour dues are paid before going afloat. WPNSA’s day permit adds parking, a rigging area and showers.KitRent or bring. The OTC at WPNSA hires windsurf and wing kit by the hour.
Kite sizes for October

Derived from the 18 to 20 kt mean over the season’s rideable hours in the record (17.5 to 20.1 kt, September to February and April), not from a fitted quiver. Kitesurfing in the harbour needs a Portland Harbour Kitesurfing Permit under General Direction No 1 of 2023, insurance is required, and lessons must come from an approved kitesurfing school.

60 to 70 kg7 and 9 m70 to 85 kg8 and 10 m85 kg and up9 and 11 m
JFMAMJJASOND

Best months, Kite. Record.

Portland Harbour · Kite · October · Generated 22 Oct 2026 from the 2022 to 2026 record5 of 6
07

Sources, and their limits

Where each section of this report comes from. Record is measured. Modelled is computed by a formula because no measurement exists yet; it looks like data and is not. Written is WindChaser's editorial copy, compiled from the sources below.

§WhatSourceLimit
01Kite month sharesRecordCounted at 12 kt for three daylight hours from Meteo-France AROME France HD at 1.5 km, cell 0.29 km from the spot, December 2022 to September 2026, 3 to 4 years a month, no station correction.
01Windsurf and Wing month sharesRecordCounted at 13 kt (Windsurf) and 12 kt (Wing) from the same series, by the same rule as the Kite share.
01Direction, strength, when it blowsWrittenDirection from the harbour authority’s windsurf page. Strength and time of day read from the record.
02The month’s recordsRecordThree to four years a month. ERA5 over the same window is within 5.2 points a month on average. No station check has shipped.
03Stays, school and kitWrittenConfirmed on The OTC’s and WPNSA’s own websites. One price band, from a published price. Four more stays, two of them from WPNSA’s own list, confirmed on their own websites and Google listings on 30 September 2026. The bar named in the guide, Billy Winters, from its own website.
04Tide windowsMissingNo tide source in the pipeline. The section renders its empty state.
05Rules, hazards and shippingWrittenFrom Portland Harbour Authority’s own instruments, read first hand: General Directions No 1 of 2024 (exclusion zone) and No 1 of 2023 (kitesurfing permit), the 2026 small-vessel dues tariff, and Local Notices to Mariners 05/2024 and 16/2017, both listed in force by LNTM 01/2026. The emergency number from the authority’s kitesurfing poster. The prohibited areas from the authority’s own FAQ page. The Harbour Revision Order 1997 was read only for its harbour dues article.
06Airports, access, packing, kite sizesWrittenRoad distances from OSRM. No water temperature source. Sizes derived from the session mean.
MapsMissingNo drawn maps for this spot. No surveyed coordinates for the launches.

The record

Hourly wind, 2022 to 2026, from Météo-France AROME France HD via Open-Meteo: a 1.5 km grid, read at the cell 0.3 km from the spot. It knows the wind over the cell, not the gust on the sand in front of you, and it knows the bearing, not the coastline: "side-onshore" is a rider's reading of the bearing. Each month is counted over three to four years.

What we could not source for Portland Harbour

Crowds by month: no count exists for Portland Harbour yet, so the crowd chip is left empty and only the October event weeks are marked. A bathing water classification and a first-hand reading of the local vibe. Tide tables and per-launch tide windows. A station check on the wind record. Surveyed launch coordinates. A water temperature. Stays confirmed on their own websites. Where any of these is missing above, the section says so rather than filling itself.

Conditions change. Check local rules and conditions before you ride.

Compiled by WindChaser, 27 Sep 2026. Hero photograph on the spot page by Brian Deegan, CC BY-SA 2.0. Report generated 22 Oct 2026 from record version 2026.10; a report and its spot page are rendered from the same data and cannot disagree.

Portland Harbour · Kite · October · Generated 22 Oct 2026 from the 2022 to 2026 record6 of 6