A kitesurfer in Portland Harbour — Photo: Brian Deegan

Portland Marina and the harbour from above — Photo: Raimond Spekking

The harbour and its breakwaters from the shingle shore — Photo: Peter Barr

The lighthouse on the breakwater — Photo: Nicholas Mutton

United Kingdom

Nov · 83% rideable

Portland Harbour

What it's actually like

Four breakwaters, 520 hectares and the 2012 Olympic sailing, all in one Dorset harbour. It is mostly flat, works in every wind direction and at every tide, and November and December are the pick.

Portland Harbour sits beside the Isle of Portland on the Dorset coast, which Portlanders simply call the Island. Convicts from HM Prison Portland quarried the stone for its four breakwaters. The two southern ones went up between 1849 and 1872 and the northern pair between 1893 and 1906, enclosing 520 hectares, then the largest human-made harbour in the world. The Royal Navy left in 1995, and in 2012 the Olympic sailing was raced here.

The harbour is mostly flat water with prevailing south-westerly winds, and you can use it in every wind direction. Since December 2022, six months stand out: September to December, February and April. In each of them at least seven days in ten clear 12 knots for three daylight hours or more. November and December are the pick, and May is the one weak month. On a December day with the south-westerly in, you will be properly powered up.

The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) at Osprey Quay is the main launch, and The OTC runs its school and hire there. The Ferrybridge car park and most of Hamm Beach are launches too, including the stretch by the roundabout that the harbour authority itself calls Windy Corner. An easterly brings small waves for bump and jump, and the rest of the time you get mostly flat water for slalom, speed and foiling.

Day, week, month, season and year dues can be bought online, by email or from an agent. They cover a SUP or kayak in the harbour too, and the harbour patrol RIB may ask to see proof. It is a working port as well: ships use its entrances, and the commercial dockyard is closed to leisure users.

You will find enough water at any state of tide. The one strong flow is under the Ferrybridge, where the Fleet Lagoon fills and empties. It can be fast, it can keep running after the times of high and low water, and the New Channel there needs care. Ships use the East and North entrances, with traffic lights on the East Ship Channel. Pots and nets are laid in the harbour, and the water is cold enough for cold water shock.

The authority advises windsurfers to carry a knife, spare downhaul and outhaul rope, a spare universal joint and sail tape in a waterproof bag. It also advises learning to self-rescue, and considering the RYA SafeTrx app, which can alert your contacts if you are not back on time.

Beginners can start inside the harbour with The OTC, which calls itself the RYA’s first recognised wing-surfing and wing-foiling training centre. Kiters, you need the harbour permit. The harbour suits riders who have completed a course, because the prevailing south-westerly blows offshore. When you come in, Billy Winters, a beach bar and diner at Ferrybridge Boatyard, is open Wednesday to Sunday.

Speed runs deep in this harbour, which also hosts slalom, freestyle and foil racing. Off the water the history is everywhere. Henry VIII built Portland Castle and Sandsfoot Castle to guard the anchorage, and the battleship HMS Hood was scuttled across the southern entrance in 1914.

Rules and safety. You must pay harbour dues before going afloat, and the 2026 tariff for small vessels applies them to windsurfers, wing surfers and all foiling variants. General Direction No 1 of 2024 bans windsurf boards, and boards powered by a kite, wing or sail, from the exclusion zone off Hamm Beach. The ban applies while the orange windsock on the New Channel Beacon and the swim buoy lines are out, normally June to September. Failure to comply is an offence. Under General Direction No 1 of 2023, you must hold a Portland Harbour Kitesurfing Permit to kitesurf anywhere in the harbour, at any time. Display its tag and have insurance. Teaching yourself to kitesurf in the harbour is prohibited. Keep clear of commercial and naval vessels. Vessels are prohibited from the commercial dockyard controlled area and from Bincleaves harbour. In an emergency dial 999, or 112 from a mobile, and ask for the Coastguard.

When it's good

Is it for you?

LevelJumper
Offshore south-westerly: the harbour suits kiters who have completed a course, permit needed.
WaterMillpond to small chop
Mostly flat water inside the breakwaters, with small waves when an easterly blows.
LaunchNot checked yet
Wetsuit5/4 and booties
Sea about 14 °C in November: a 5/4 and booties, and you'll want both.
AprèsGoes off till sunrise
62 bars, 3 clubs and 42 places to eat within 5 km: the night's yours.
CostVan life
Kiters need the kitesurfing permit; The Bunker’s bunk rooms start at £41 a night.

Where to launch

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

Launch
Hazard
Parking

WPNSA, Osprey Quay

The home of the Olympic sailing.

For windsurf, wing. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps
Ferrybridge and Hamm Beach

The Ferrybridge car park by Billy Winter’s Café, and most of Hamm Beach, including the stretch the harbour authority calls Windy Corner.

For windsurf, wing, kite. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps
Chesil car park

A council car park on the far side of Portland Beach Road.

For windsurf, wing, kite. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps

In an emergency

Emergency, ask for the Coastguard 999
Emergency, from a mobile 112

Getting there

Nearest airportBournemouth (BOH). Bournemouth is your nearest, about 67 km and around an hour by road. Exeter (EXT) is about 89 km if that flies better for you.
Getting aroundTrain, then road. Train to Weymouth, then about 7 km by road to WPNSA, where day visitors park in the main car park opposite the academy building.

Stay, learn and rent

Full details for every place are in the Pocket Guide.

WPNSA campervan pitches

Park the van at the academy, right by the launch. Pitches are for members, event entrants, training and partner courses, with toilets and showers for vans up to 8 m. Launching and harbour dues are not included.

Website

RYA Portland House

The RYA’s own place at Osprey Quay, built for the London 2012 Olympics. Twin, triple and family rooms, a large store for bikes and sailing kit, and free parking with room for trailers. RYA members only.

Website

The Bunker

A budget 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 is a few minutes’ walk.

Website

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Pocket Guide