Portland Harbour is a large harbour enclosed by breakwaters at Portland, on the Dorset coast. The harbour authority describes mostly flat water with prevailing south-westerly winds, and says the harbour can be used in every wind direction and at every tide. It is a working port as well: ships use its entrances and the commercial dockyard is closed to leisure users.
The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) at Osprey Quay is the main launch, and the harbour hosts slalom, freestyle, speed and foil racing.
In every one of them at least seven days in ten clear 12 knots for three daylight hours or more, and December is the pick, with November close behind, both at more than eight in ten.
76% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.
In October the wind most often sits at 12 to 15 kt (28% of daylight hours) and is over 12 kt from 8am to 6pm on at least half the days. See both charts in the full report
No weather station near enough to check these figures against.
October on the record
The month's own figures, 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
Take it with you
The full Portland Harbour report
Seven sections over six pages, built from the same record as this page. A PDF you can read on the plane.
01Hour-by-hour & month-by-month wind02The month's own records03Stays, the school & kit04Per-launch tide notes05The exclusion zone, dues & shipping06Getting there, packing & best months07Sources, and their limits
WindChaser spot reportPortland HarbourDorset, United Kingdom · October76% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.
When it gets busy
Crowds
Weymouth Speed Week runs from 3 to 9 October 2026 and a UK Windsurfing Association national racing round follows on 10 and 11 October, both at WPNSA. WindChaser has no crowd count for the harbour yet.
On the water
What October usually does
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.
Your playground
Launches & safety
Conditions change. Check local rules and conditions before you ride.
Launch
Hazard
Parking
School
Stay
Webcam
Approximate
Local intel
Getting there & on the ground
Nearest airportBournemouth (BOH)About 67 km by road, around an hour. Exeter (EXT) is about 89 km.
On the groundSeptember to February, and AprilThe windiest months in the record, each at seven days in ten or more. December is the pick, November close behind.
Getting aroundTrain, then roadRail to Weymouth, then about 7 km by road to WPNSA. Day visitors park in the main car park opposite the academy building.
