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Portland Harbour / Weymouth
also known as Weymouth Bay, Portland Harbour, Hamm Beach
Portland Harbour / Weymouth has no other spot on this map within 40 km of it. straight-line distance
When it fills in
No daily onset to plan around. The days that work are frontal and can blow at any hour, and no local sea-breeze timing is published.
The wind
locals call it Dorset south-coast sea breeze / Portland Venturi
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
mixed
fills in: No daily onset to plan around. The days that work are frontal and can blow at any hour, and no local sea-breeze timing is published.
Typical strength
The usable range for Portland Harbour is given as 12-40 kt. Nobody has published a monthly average table, so treat that as indicative.
The quiver, in words
No local size table is published. Indicative for a 75-85 kg rider across the 12-40 kt usable range: 12 m at the bottom end, 9 m around 18 kt, 7 m around 22-25 kt, 5-6 m once it is over 30.
Direction to shore
The harbour is enclosed, so most directions work. NE, E, SW and W are the good ones, and easterly and north-easterly are the prized ones: cross-shore off Hamm Beach with glassy water. Westerly is offshore from Hamm Beach while the water inside stays flat, and that is the setup to plan an exit for.
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan63
- Feb76
- Mar73
- Apr, riders' month59
- May, riders' month41
- Jun, riders' month42
- Jul, riders' month53
- Aug, riders' month56
- Sep, riders' month48
- Oct74
- Nov74
- Dec73
per cent of the month at force 4 or more
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
- 14Jan10°
- 15Feb9°
- 14Mar9°
- 13Apr11°
- 11May13°
- 11Jun16°
- 12Jul16°
- 12Aug17°
- 12Sep18°
- 14Oct16°
- 16Nov14°
- 16Dec11°
avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Force 4+ | Knots | From | Air | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63% | 14.4 kt | W | 6.3°C | 9.6°C |
| Feb | 76% | 15 kt | W | 8.3°C | 9.4°C |
| Mar | 73% | 14.4 kt | SW | 8.5°C | 9.2°C |
| Apr | 59% | 13 kt | W | 9.7°C | 10.7°C |
| May | 41% | 10.7 kt | WSW | 13.3°C | 13.4°C |
| Jun | 42% | 11.1 kt | WSW | 16°C | 15.9°C |
| Jul | 53% | 12.2 kt | WSW | 17.3°C | 15.8°C |
| Aug | 56% | 11.9 kt | WSW | 18°C | 16.9°C |
| Sep | 48% | 11.8 kt | WSW | 16°C | 18°C |
| Oct | 74% | 13.7 kt | WSW | 14.2°C | 16.4°C |
| Nov | 74% | 15.8 kt | WSW | 10.3°C | 13.9°C |
| Dec | 73% | 15.8 kt | WSW | 7.9°C | 11.1°C |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from weather reanalysis on a 10–25 km grid (2022-2024), not a ground station: reliable for trade and synoptic winds, understates thermal sea breezes and valley winds. The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
ERA5 reanalysis grid point (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical weather API — ECMWF ERA5/ERA5-Land reanalysis, not a ground station · 2022-2024
The water
Type
flat
Standing depth
Shallow a long way out. Off Hamm Beach it is no more than neck deep for a good 200 m, and for about three hours either side of low water you can stand up a long distance off the beach, which is why the schools teach here. Weymouth Beach next door is sandy and shallow to a similar 200 m.
Tides
Rideable at any tide state inside the harbour. Mid to low water is the sweet spot, roughly two hours after high water onward, and the three hours either side of low are the window where you can put your feet down.High water with an onshore easterly makes the launch awkward; high water with an offshore westerly makes the return harder, so get out before the water gets deep. Keep well clear of the narrow channel at Ferrybridge on the ebb, where the tide runs fast.
Temperature
16°C summer · 10°C winter
Wetsuit
Weymouth seasonal averages are about 16 C in summer and about 9.7 C in winter, so most riders use a 3/2 or 4/3 in summer shoulder conditions and a 5/4 with boots, gloves and hood in winter.
Currents
Limited inside the sheltered harbour, apart from the outgoing flow around Ferrybridge on an ebbing tide. Out in Weymouth Bay there is open-water exposure and boat traffic.
Your level
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
1 school names this spot
On your own
Room to launch: medium
Somewhere else
No neighbour on record
No other spot in the atlas sits within reach of this one.
Rescue
Launch
Kite access is around Hamm Beach and Ferrybridge, near Billy Winters and the Victoria Square / Portland Beach Road end. Most of the length of Hamm Beach works, and the Ferrybridge car park by Billy Winters is the usual parking. Weymouth Beach is a separate open-bay option in some wind directions.
Space
medium
Rules & access
- 2026: kitesurfing in Portland Harbour is regulated by General Direction No 1 of 2023, which is a byelaw. A Portland Harbour Authority permit is required, riders without a valid permit can be asked to leave the water and may be liable to prosecution, and riders must hold third-party insurance and be competent at self-rescue and deep-water pack-down. The venue is set out for an intermediate or advanced rider who has completed a course.
- 2026: a seasonal exclusion zone for windsurfers and kitesurfers is usually in place June to September off Hamm Beach near Billy Winter's Cafe under General Direction No 1 of 2024, marked on the water by a line of red and yellow inflatable fender buoys connected with white rope and treated as impassable.
- 2026: daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal and annual permits exist, and a kitesurfing permit also covers windsurfing, wing-surfing, SUP and kayak activities in the harbour. A day permit is quoted at about £3.80, unconfirmed against the authority's own price list, which is not published; permits are sold through the online leisure permit system, by emailed application form, or in person from designated agents.
- 2026: extra caution is required in easterly winds at high spring tides.
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Buy the Portland Harbour Authority permit before you ride, and read the notices in force that morning.
- Park at the Ferrybridge car park by Billy Winters and walk down to Hamm Beach.
- Ask a school where the exclusion-zone buoys sit before any June-September session.
- Give Ferrybridge a wide berth on an ebbing tide.
- Check for racing or organised sailing before you launch.
- Flat water is not safe water in a westerly: from Hamm Beach that wind is blowing you away from the shore.
- Park at the Ferrybridge car park by Billy Winters and walk down to Hamm Beach; the Chesil Beach car park opposite is the other option.
- Ride the three hours either side of low water if you want to be able to touch the bottom.
- A day permit runs a few pounds. Buy it through the online leisure permit system before you drive down, or from a designated agent on the way.
- Take extra care in an easterly at a high spring tide, and in a westerly get off the water before it gets deep.
Getting there
Airport
Bournemouth Airport (BOH)
Route
By car, follow the A354 from Weymouth toward the Isle of Portland and use the Hamm Beach/Ferrybridge/Billy Winters area for the harbour launch. By public transport, use rail to Weymouth, then bus or taxi toward Portland/Ferrybridge.
Transfer
60 min
Cost level
medium: paid parking and Portland Harbour Authority permits apply; schools and equipment hire are typical UK south-coast prices.
Staying
Stay in Weymouth for beach-town hotels, guesthouses and apartments, or on Portland for closer access to Hamm Beach, Osprey Quay and the Sailing Academy.
No-wind days
Jurassic Coast walks, Chesil Beach, Portland Bill, climbing on Portland limestone, diving/snorkelling, sailing, SUP/kayak in suitable conditions, Weymouth seafront and harbour, cafes and pubs.
Photos
FAQ
Is Portland Harbour suitable for beginners?
Yes, the flat, sheltered harbour is a major UK teaching and freeride venue, with CS Boardsports operating a BKSA-recognised school there.
Do I need a permit to kitesurf at Portland Harbour?
Yes. As of 2026, kitesurfing is regulated by General Direction No 1 of 2023 and requires a Portland Harbour Authority permit plus third-party insurance; riders without a valid permit can be asked to leave the water.
Are there restricted zones at Portland Harbour?
A Seasonal Exclusion Zone for windsurfers and kitesurfers is usually in place from June to September off Hamm Beach near Billy Winter's Cafe, under General Direction No 1 of 2024.
What is the wind like at Portland Harbour?
The harbour works in many directions because it is enclosed; NE, E, SW and W are listed as good directions, with a usable range cited as 12-40 knots.
What are the main hazards at Portland Harbour?
Hazards include shipping, sailing and racing traffic inside the harbour, and an outgoing current around Ferrybridge on an ebbing tide.
Last updated: August 2026