Local Knowledge & top spots
Simon has been super lucky to have travelled around the world, competing and free sailing in world class venues, but here on the East Coast, we’re blessed with so many perfect areas from which to Wingfoil.
Here are a few top hot spots for you to try with our top local knowledge and area experience.
Clacton on sea sailing club .
We are super happy to announce that we’ll also be teaching from this newly BKSA recognised club , with a lovely sandy beach accessible at any stage of tide , changing facilities with a lovely club house with second to none ocean views and great links to London by train/motorway.
Post Code
CO15 5TU
Point Clear Bay
Point Clear bay is a super flat tidal lagoon. It’s perfect for those first flights or going really fast. This spot is best sailed three hours before and up to high tide. Best wind direction would be WSW, is also sailable on any wind direction from the South .
Hazards – there’s a rock reef that’s indicated with two poles either end with a triangle basket on the top.
Watch out for tide pulling out of the bay if you wing after high tide.
Post Code
CO16 8LJ
Parking
Parking is free on the grass community car park.
This is a cracking venue that gets busy at times with other watersports enthusiasts.
Mersea Island
Mersea Island has a big expanse of water for you to explore in an estuary that’s around two miles wide. Yes, we do wing across to Bradwell on the other side.
We can Wing any direction from North West to East.
The best direction and tides we find area best, Wing foil on an East wind on a dropping tide (wind over tide) or West Wind direction on a rising tide. Equally a South West wind can be great causing the water to chop up a little perfect to Flagg along. We can also easily reach the Monkey Steps and ask me in person and I’ll gladly show you this awesome secret spot.
Hazards
Mersea island is famous for oysters so don’t forget your boots – you’ll 100% need them on but don’t let this put you off. Mersea is a cracking place to wing. Walking out from the windsurfing club sandbar we find not as many oysters here.
Also note, half a mile down the beach in the direction of Clacton, there’s an old pipe that runs out to sea for around 200 yards. You can notice this pipe at all states of tide. If you can’t see it, ask a club member he’ll gladly point it out.
Post Code
CO5 8DA
Parking
Council car park fee. Don’t be late over bank holiday weekends as these car parks fill up fast.
We generally launch from the windsurf club at the bottom of Seaview Avenue. Great little windsurf and Wingfoil club here. cheap to join and can purchase a parking season ticket if a member of the club.
Dovercourt
Predominantly, we only sail here on a South Westerly wind direction that makes it cross shore from the right. We’d turn up three hours before high tide to rig up and launch out two groins upwind from the lighthouses then head straight out.
Post Code
CO12 3ST
Parking
East Coast Watersports 