Looking windy (SW) for Saturday on the south coast. Given the tides, I'm thinking of Sandbanks. OTOH I heard a rumour that the situation at the Overcombe carpark has eased, but I can't see anything on t'internet to confirm this. Does anyone know for sure?
Anyone else thinking of going?
At Overcombe a couple of weeks or ago. Had to buy £5 day pass. Seemed a relatively small penalty to pay given the convenience of a) being able to park right on the beach and b) a cafe a few feet away that doesn't seem to complain about wetsuits.
Unfortunately spending a weekend further along the coast with non-windsurfing friends so don't think that I can make it.
I'm a possible for Saturday if the forecast stays reasonable. Tides look OK at Hamworthy, but Sandbanks sounds more interesting, assuming you mean the sea side?
Still looking quite good for tomorrow (SW 14kts). Not epic, but I'm keen to get on the water anyway. I'm favouring Sandbanks (yes, on the sea-side Matt!) mainly because it's about 18 years since I last sailed there, and I generally prefer Overcombe when there's some E in the wind. I understand that Branksome only has a small carpark so may not be suitable.
Branksome is a very small car park and about £10 per day in season but best in a westerly. Forecast ssems to be SW at present so Overcombe, Sandbanks or Avon Beach would all work. It looks like quite a small pulse of wind coming through. I will look at the early evening forecast before making a decision.
Some disagreement between the forecasts: windguru and xcweather giving more wind further east along the coast, whilst BBC is sticking with 17mph for Weymouth and 15mph for Poole. Even so, I'm still favouring Sandbanks at the moment. I've never known Adrian to miss out on the good conditions, so I'm waiting for his "decision"!
btw There's a large carpark at Sandbanks - go past the harbour and the car park is on your left. You can't miss it! I'm not aware of any restrictions, other than the rocky groynes and the ferries going in and out of the harbour.
Ah. After all that build up and anticipation, it looks like the wind has deserted us at the last moment, and there's heavy thundery showers too. There is wind much further east, but I don't fancy travelling that far. Let's hope for better next w/e for the Nomads event in the Solent.
I blame Neroli!
Frustratingly, it seems to have been a lot windier on the south coast than this morning's forecasts suggested, eg Portland in the high teens knots. Perhaps we should have gone anyway .