Portland Harbour, UK: windsurf and wing foil guide

What it's actually like

Compiled by WindChaser, 27 September 2026

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.

Your month

When it's good

October · 76%. 24 rideable days in 31, 8.4 hours a day over 12 kt. Come.

Where else it blows in October

At a glance

Is it for you?

Skill levelGetting there

WaterMillpond

Wind · OctUsually turns up

Crowds · OctHeavy in season

Local vibeFriendly enough

Water qualityUsually clean

NightlifeA bar or two

CostMid

Geek analysis

October in the record

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.

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

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.

Stay, schools & kit

Who works this beach

All 5 stays near Portland Harbour on one page

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