Location, follow signs to Penarth marina and then drive directly onto Cardiff Bay Barrage from the Penarth end.
Wind: It has been successfuly sailed insw/w/nw winds and also in se/e/ne winds.
Access & suitability: The launching is at the discretion of Cardiff Harbour authority.
Facilities:The launches are great, there's a family play area and there is a shower and toilet block under construction.
During Summer 2006 Windsurfing was by appointment on weekday evenings and Sunday mornings. Currently it's neccesary to have an RYA level 3 certificate to windsurf here, however, this may be relaxed for the summer of 2007. For the latest info on cardiff bay windsurfing click on the link below:
Cold Knap Barry.
Location: From J33 of the M4 take the A4232 to Cardiff airport and then the A4050 to Barry. Head Towards Barry Island, and then follow signs for "the Knap"
Suitability: It's great for a wide range of abilities. In the prevailing W-SW winds generally experienced it is generally flat and easy to sail on a falling tide, on a rising tide there are often quality jumping waves on the sandbars for a couple of hours after low tide, before it gets a little confused. At all states of tide there is a counter current in the east (generally downwind) end of the bay, so staying upwind is well advised as once you get a long way down the beach it can be a real struggle to get back. Avoid High tide. The beach shelves very steeply at the top of it's tidal range and makes Brighton's shorebreak seem like child's' play.
Wind & Tide: See above.
Facilities: There are on site toilets and a burger van in summer with coffee shops just around the corner.
Kitesurfing: Yes, but most folks head to Margam sands, low tide plus / minus 3 hours is the best time.
Surfing: Yes, but only on big swells, works from low tide up to 2 hours after.
Newton Bay Porthcawl
Location: It can be accessed from Bridgend, by following the A4106 into Porthcawl, you will reach a roundabout outside of town with a left turn for Newton village, with the town centre straight on. Take the left turning, and left again opposite the globe garage, follow beach road and you're there.
Suitability: Most folks are ok here. It's a bit exposed for raw beginners & a bit tame for full wave heads, but it's great for performance slalom and bump and jump sailing, especially well suited to intermediates.
Wind & Tide: Newton works in most winds from W, through, S to NE. There are occasionally waves on the rock reef at low tide (mind your fin, it gets' shallow!!), however, it is predominantly a flat water venue, being the best coastal location in this area for beginners. For performance slalom sailing it is generally best sailed with the wind over tide.
Facilities: There is a large car park with a grassy rigging area. In the winter it is free, in summer you sometimes have to pay £1.00. There are 2 pubs in the village and a couple of general stores also a café on the seafront opposite the carpark.
Kitesurfing: Not as popular as Barry, but it's really the only spot in an easterly, avoid the rocks at low tide!
Surfing: Sometimes surfed at low tide on a big storm, but Coney beach is just SO much better it's hardly worth the effort.
Rest Bay Porthcawl
Location.: Come off the M4 at junction 37 and follow the A4229 until you pick up signs for Nottage. Rest Bay is on the coast road and there is a large car park at the top of the beach.
Suitability: In general it is regarded as a wave sailors' only beach, however, there can be quality flat days had here in the summer.
Wind & Tide: Rest Bay works best on a NW wind, as it faces directly SW. strong SE winds can also give good conditions. It is worth avoiding the top 2-3 hours of the tidal range as the beach tends to disappear!!
Facilities: The facilities locally are limited to the car park, but the town of Porthcawl is very close.
Kitesurfing.: Possible on those flat water summer days. Excellent, and popular for buggying in onshore winds at low tide.
Surfing: Fantastic. You nearly always get some kind of a wave when the tide is incoming. Forget outgoing tides it's always flat.
Trecco Bay Porthcawl
Location: As per rest bay, but instead of turning right for Nottage, carry straight on. At the roundabout turn left and follow the road. At the next roundabout turn right and carry on a few hundred meters until you see a sign for Mackworth Road. Turn left into the "high tide inn" car park. Technically this is coney beach and Trecco lies around the point to the left as you look out to sea. You can either sail down or carry your gear, either way it's not far.
Suitability: There are rips, rocks and large waves. If you are into waves they are all worth it.
Wind & Tide: The beach works in SE, W and NW wind directions, and at most states of an incoming tide there is some kind of a wave somewhere in the bay. Although not often crowded this beach can produce awesome conditions on its day.
Facilities: The closest facilities are at Coney beach, where we have reccomended that you park.
Kitesurfing: Possibly do-able, but the rips and rocks could make it interesting to say the least. Coney beach is becoming popular in Southeasterlies.
Surfing: West point will actually hold a bigger wave than Coney beach, which is right next door, but requires a bigger swell to work well. Very popular with longboarders, and those who don't like crowds.
Rhossili Bay Gower
Location:This is the massive bay that takes up most of the west side of the Gower peninsula. One can get to it either from the south "Rhossili" end, or the north "Hillend" end. It's much better to take the northern access. Once you are through the village of Llangennith access is through the sand dunes at the base of Hillend campsite.
Suitability: It can be flat water, but it is predominantly an experts' beach due to the large waves and strong currents.Wind And Tide: On the right day this place can be awesome. For true wavesailing a strong South Easterly is best. This produces cross-offshore conditions. Southerly and northerly work well, although anything with too much west tends to be onshore and very closed out, while too much east is very offshore.
Facilities: There is a shop on the campsite and toilets, with a pub and more shops in the village.
Kitesurfing: Not very popular due to the waves, but excellent for buggying at low tide.
Surfing: Possibly the best beach in the area. Hire available at PJ's surf shop in the village.
Horton / Port Eynon Gower
Location: Horton is the east end of this bay and Port Eynon the west. To get here follow the A4118 along the south of the Gower until you reach either end. At Port Eynon you can park relatively close to the water, at Horton it is a short walk through Sand dunes.
Suitability: On lighter days early intermediates should be ok. As it gets rougher so it gets more demanding.
Wind & Tide: The bay itself gets is best sailed in SW to w winds and as such gets progressively rougher as you go downwind (towards Horton) with some good quality waves in between the two launches. There is also a nice riding wave out by Port Eynon point, if you don't mind sailing far out.
Facilities: There is a nice Café and pub at Port Eynon, with very little facilities at Horton, other than the odd opportunist thief.
Kitesurfing: Good in the winter as the beach tends to be very empty.
Surfing: Good on a big swell. There is a nice beach break equidistant from port Eynon & Horton which can get busy. There are some awesome reefs "round the corner" -I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you!!!-
Oxwych Bay
Location.: It is just to the East of Horton, turn off the A4118 a couple of miles before and follow the signs. Access to the water continues to be difficult for those with vans, as there is a height restriction barrier in the car park. This can be avoided by rigging up in front of the sea wall (on double yellows) before parking!
Suitability: Very popular with beginners for many years as it is enclosed on 3 sides and pretty safe feeling.
Wind & Tide: As long as there is not too much North in the wind it works from East, through South and through to West. A strong South-easterly here will bring out it's most challenging side, giving good "bump and jump" conditions for experts. In most other wind directions though it is pretty flat.
Facilities.: There are plenty of facilities in Oxwych village. Also lots of campsites close by.
Kitesurfing: Possible, but the winds do tend to be gusty. Also beware of crowds in the summer.
Surfing: Requires an unusual south east swell, and a really big one too! Happens rarely, but when it does it's fantastic.
County Hall Car Park Swansea:
Location: County hall is on the main coast road through Swansea (A467)
Suitability: All levels from beginner up.Wind & Tide: It provides direct access to Swansea bay and so is best sailed at high tide. It works in similar winds to Oxwych, with the exception being a NE wind, where you need to launch further round the bay towards mumbles. It is very rare to get any sort of a wave in Swansea bay, so it is primarily a slalom blasting area.
Facilities: Cross the dual carriageway & the delights of Swansea city centre await your delectation.
Kitesurfing: Possible at high tide. Good buggying at low tide.
Llandeggfedd Reservoir:
Location Take Junction 26 off the M4 motorway and proceed towards Abergavenny on the A4042. Shortly before Pontypool the route will be signposted.
Winds.: The reservoir faces N.E. to SW and a N.E. wind works best here for intermediates through to experts. With the exception of southerly all other wind directions tend to get confused by the surrounding hills, but there is a small bay which is excellent for beginners.
Facilities: You do have to pay to use the water here, at last count it was £7 for a day and £4.50 for an evening, but there are showers and toilets. There is also an active sailing club, and a windsurfing school, called Gwent Adventures.
Llangorse lake
Location: It is situated just north of the A40 in between Brecon and Abergavenny. The easiest access is to take the b4560 at Bwlch which will then take you to Llangorse village. When you get to Llangorse you will need to turn left and follow the main road, the lake will be signposted.
Wind: Llangorse works reasonably well in most wind directions, however, due to the surrounding hills most winds do tend to be a bit gusty in nature, but the water quality is excellent.
Facilities: Most people tend to sail from the official launches in between PGL and the sailing club, however as the lake is private land you will have to pay. There are some small lakeside shops and the village of Llangorse has the usual facilities of any small country village.
Ponsticll Reservoir
Location: (Also known as Pentwyn reservoir.) Follow the A470 north through Merthyr until you cross the A465, take the next road on your right, follow it to the end and you're there.
Wind: The best winds here are northerly or southerly, W & E winds tend to be blocked by the valley sides that create the reservoir.
Facilities: One can sail either from the sailing club (Merthyr S.C.) or from the activity centre, both require permission to be obtained before going afloat. Facilities are limited to an ice cream van on summer weekends as it is rather isolated.