Hi all,

I'm new to windsurfing and am having lessons at Southport which is a bit of a trek from me (I'm the wrong side of the ribble near Lytham). They only sail on Tuesdays at 6pm and due to losing the light will be shutting up shop for the season in the next couple of weeks.

Does anybody still sail around Lytham / Blackpool / Preston area? The only forum posts I see are years old. I've tried asking at a couple of clubs with the following responses:
- Ribble Cruising Club: we don't have any windsurfers, everyone has a boat.
- Blackpool Light Craft Club: "We do not have any windsurfers but we have had windsurfers before we now have a lot of kite surfing members which seems to be the newest sport. You are welcome to come any Tuesday to the club between 8 and 10 and have a look around"

Or there's the RVSC club which is still miles away but appears to have an active windsurfing scene, assuming the website is up to date (http://www.rvsc.co.uk/html/activities.html)

My skill level is: I sailed around the island and back to where I started from just last Tuesday and was extremely happy about it . I haven't bought any kit yet but will probably buy some off Southport club since they're selling.

Kind Regards,
Phil.

Hi Phil,

I think people often sail from Fleetwood, but I don't know too much about it.

I often sail from Cockerham Sands (north of Pilling) - there are a few of us that sail regularly. Its not bad for beginners so long as you have a nice big board that you can uphaul easily. Feel free to get in touch if there's no-one else closer.

Gill

Theres a small number of windsurfers who use fleetwood.
I kite a lot at Blackpool, from the Light craft club down to lytham & I have never seen a single windsurfer along the whole stretch. The water is so shallow you'd have to walk a good 100m into the sea just to get your fin off the bottom.
You will be swamped with kiters all along that coastline, and at ainsdale too.

your best bet, whilst it seems silly given your proximity to the sea, if you want to join other windsurfers, would be to go through the tunnel to leasowe or west kirby.

Gill
where do you launch at Cockerham Sands?
How much flexibility do you get with the tide there?

cheers
Byway

We launch from 2 places at Cockerham, depending on wind direction. Initially turn off the main road (A588), north of Cockerham onto Moss lane, following signs for the Caravan site. After 5 mins or so and a few 90degree bends you will come to a T junction. If the wind has any westerly in it, turn right, follow the road round and slightly left around Lighthouse cottage to the car park.
If the wind is SE'ly, turn left at the T junction and sail from the parking bay opposite the caravans.

It can get a bit shallow, particularly at the caravan side, so probably only a couple of hours sail time there before the sand banks get your fin.

The Lighthouse side is better. The water is deeper, and there's actually a channel from the river Lune so sail time just depends on how far you want to walk. We usually get there about 1.5 to 2 hours before high water.

There is usually some chop, although it flattens out from high water onwards. There are often about 3-6 windsurfers out on a windy weekend. Occasionally people go during the week.

There is a website that the Morecambe windsurfers use to post about sailing. I'm trying to get some posts on about Cockerham too, as some people sail in both locations.

http://www.morecambebaysurf.org.uk

Gill

thanks, Gill

sounds like with a long fin I'd have to walk half-way to Barrow if I missed high tide

cheers
Byway