Where do the Velocity crew wing... Beach guide

Above @rod.foils, Steve, Kate and Jim at Coney beach. Drone: Deano

While the water is low at Cheddar you will find the Velocity crew at a mix of beaches:

We mostly frequent Newton beach in Porthcawl, Coney beach in Porthcawl and Cold Knap in Barry. They are all friendly places with groups of wingers at each location.

Here is a super quick guide to each:

Newton beach in Porthcawl

Map

Wind

It works very well in a South Westerly or Westerly wind (and also in a North easterly). This is a sandy beach with rocks offshore.

In the summer it gets the same accelerated sea breeze that we experience at Axbridge but often much stronger. Look for 13 knots or more on the windfinder super forecast.

Tide

Best around mid tide.
There is an offshore reef which can produce some fantastic swell riding conditions but it needs to be avoided if the water tide level is below 3m (check the tide heights on windfinder super forecast).

With a good amount of West in the Wind the water state around mid tide at Newton is pretty flat, but it gets choppier the higher the tide.

Parking

There is a big car park (ANPR so get a ticket) and some on road free parking.

Coney beach ('Sandy Bay') in Porthcawl

Map

Wind

This is a sandy beach with no rocks and works very well in a Westerly or North Westerly wind (and also in a South easterly).

In the summer it gets the same accelerated sea breeze that we experience at Axbridge but often much stronger. Look for 13 knots or more on the windfinder super forecast.

Tide

Best at High Tide.
At High Tide the harbour wall gives good shelter from ocean side chop and produces smooth water (but gusty wind).
With a good amount of West in the Wind the water state around high tide at Coney is very flat it gets choppier as the tide drops.

However it is open to long period surfing style ocean groundswells (as opposed to chop) and is a popular surfing beach so check the swell forecast before heading there and unless you want to grapple with breaking surf Avoid conditions which have surf over 1m and 11 seconds (we love it when it is like that).

If there are any breaking waves it is best to launch upwind right underneath the pier (cowards corner) and paddle out and downwind to the windline.

Parking

There is a big car park (£3 cash only), you have to walk down an annoying sand dune to get to the water.

Coney is the most beautiful beach (but with the worst beach side attractions imaginable / just only look out to sea...).

Watch out for other water users particularly open water swimmers with large orange floats.

The container coffee kiosk does the best espresso / flat white...

Cold Knap in Barry

Map

Wind

At low tide this is a sandy beach with no rocks and works very well in a Westerly wind.

In the summer it gets the same, but massively, accelerated sea breeze that we experience at Axbridge but often much, much stronger. Look for 13 knots or more on the windfinder super forecast.

Cold knap is usually quite choppy with a cross on wind in a W.

Tide

It is best from mid tide to low tide (the outgoing tide helpfully pulls you upwind). When the tide starts to turn and push it gets noticeably more choppy with a very strong downwind tidal rip in a West wind. (in general Newton is a better beginners beach).

If you aren't comfortable getting up on the foil avoid sailing here on a pushing tide, you will get taken downwind very quickly.

Parking

There is a big free car park. This beach is known as The Magic Stones because of the steep stoney beach that is a PITA to walk on. But the accelerated sea breeze is Magic.

....Yes we know we missed out Weston Super Mare, but mostly we don't wing there and it isn't the best place for beginners either.