| Contact | |||
| Gullane | Longniddry | Silverknowes | Seacliff |
| Beadnell | Troon | St Andrews | Belhaven Bay |
| Black Loch | Southerly Winds | Easterly Winds | Inshore |
| Other UK |
See Gullane
See Longniddry
See Seacliff
See Silverknowes
See Beadnell Bay
See Troon & Barassie
See St Andrews
Belhaven is a popular location for windsurfers from Edinburgh when the wind is Northerly or South Easterly. In a South Easterly, the wind comes over the golf course. The bay can have large waves.
I have not sailed here myself. I usually prefer to go to Beadnell.
We sail at Longniddry in South Westerly winds, but it is always gusty. Consider Troon in a South Westerly, Beadnell in a Southerly, or maybe St. Andrews if the wind is South Easterly.
Easterly winds, especially in Summer, are difficult to forecast. Sometimes the wind will be North East at the airport, but South East at Gullane. Sometimes there will be no wind at the airport, but wind at Dunbar. Do not get excited when you see a low pressure coming in quickly and the isobars packed closely together. Experienced forecasters know there will be only a light easterly breeze.
People sail at Gullane in an Easterly wind, but the wind over the golf course is often gusty. If the wind is Easterly or North Easterly, you may do better at other locations this side of the Forth. These include Silverknowes, Portobello, Fisherrow (Musselburgh) and Longniddry#1 (near Port Seton Caravan park). Further out, consider the private beach at Seacliff near Tantallan, Belhaven bay at Dunbar, and Whitesands behind the concrete works at Barns Ness.
If the wind is South East, you may do better on the other side of the Forth. Consider Silver Sands at Aberdour, Burntisland or Pettycur Bay near Kinghorn.
Further afield, St. Andrews and Beadnell are exposed to Easterly winds from the North Sea. Both get significant waves if the wind is onshore.
When there is fog on the East Coast, you can get a good Easterly breeze at Loch Earn. There are convenient car parks on the road to the North of the Loch, not too far from St. Fillans. St. Mary's Loch also benefits from a NE wind.
There are a number of fresh water lochs where you can windsurf. Here are some options you might consider.
Millarochy Bay at Loch Lomond is sailable in a North Westerly wind. There is usually not much wind near the shore, so you'll need a board with lots of buoyancy.
Loch Earn is sailable in an Easterly or Westerly. Access from one of the car parks on the Northern side of the loch.
Loch Ore Meadows country park in Fife has changing rooms, and a rescue boat. South West is the best direction here.
St. Mary's Loch is sailable in a South West or North East wind. It has a reputation for occasional strong winds, funnelled between the hills.
Lochside (Fannyside) Loch near Cumbernauld has a club which combines windsurfing and dinghy sailing.
See you at Exmouth, Borth(Aberystwyth), Dale (Pembroke), Beadnell (Northumberland), Troon, or maybe elsewhere. I hope you enjoy some good windsurfing.