Dorset is one of the UK’s premier windsurfing destinations, offering excellent conditions for complete beginners as well as experienced sailors. The sheltered waters of Poole Harbour provide an ideal place to learn, while Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay offer larger open-water sailing areas that have hosted international sailing and windsurfing events.
Whether you’re looking for your first windsurfing lesson, equipment hire or an RYA training course, several professional watersports centres operate across Dorset. Most lessons include the use of a windsurf board, sail, wetsuit and buoyancy aid, although the equipment provided and course content vary between operators.
Compared with paddleboarding and kayaking, windsurfing requires more specialist equipment and instruction, so there are fewer dedicated centres offering lessons and hire. However, Dorset’s leading windsurfing schools are among the best in the UK and provide tuition for everyone from complete beginners to advanced sailors.
Price information: Prices were checked on 25 July 2026 but may change. Confirm current prices, opening arrangements and availability with the operator before travelling.
On this page
- Windsurfing Lessons and Hire in Sandbanks
- Windsurfing Lessons in Portland and Weymouth
- Best Places to Windsurf in Dorset
- Which Windsurfing Location Should You Choose?
- Before You Go Windsurfing
Windsurfing Lessons and Hire in Sandbanks
Sandbanks is widely regarded as one of the best places in Britain to learn windsurfing. The southern side of the peninsula overlooks the sheltered waters of Poole Harbour, where the water remains relatively shallow for some distance from the shore and is protected from large waves.
Several established watersports schools operate here, offering everything from beginner taster sessions and equipment hire to RYA training courses and advanced coaching. More experienced windsurfers can also enjoy excellent sailing across Poole Harbour when conditions are suitable.
Poole Windsurfing
Address: Operates from a mobile van on Shore Road, Sandbanks
Telephone: 01202 237247
Website: https://www.poolewindsurfing.co.uk
Poole Windsurfing specialises exclusively in windsurfing tuition and equipment hire. Based at Sandbanks, it offers beginner lessons, full learn-to-windsurf courses, improver sessions and advanced coaching using the sheltered waters of Poole Harbour.
| Windsurfing Hire | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 hour | from £16 |
Hire includes a windsurfer and wetsuit.
| Windsurfing Lesson | Price |
|---|---|
| Taster Lesson (3 hours) | £59 |
| Full Beginner Course (2 × 3 hours) | £99 |
| Improver Lesson (2 hours) | £55 |
| Advanced & Private Lessons | £45 per hour (minimum 2 hours) |
Lessons include professional tuition, windsurfer and life jacket.
Poole Harbour Watersports
Shop Address: 284 Sandbanks Road, Lilliput, BH14 8HU
Watersports School: Operates from a mobile van on Banks Road, Sandbanks
Telephone: 01202 700503
Website: https://www.pooleharbour.co.uk
Poole Harbour Watersports offers a range of windsurfing lessons for beginners and intermediate sailors together with specialist windsurf foiling and wing foiling instruction. Sessions take place on the sheltered waters of Poole Harbour, making them suitable for learning in a controlled environment.
| Lesson | Price |
|---|---|
| Intro to Windsurfing (2 hours) | £55 |
| Second Wind Windsurf (2 hours) | £55 |
| Intermediate Lesson (1 hour) | £40 |
| Windsurf Foiling (2 hours) | £99 |
| Wing Foiling (2 hours) | £125 |
The Watersports Academy
Address: 15 Banks Road, Sandbanks, BH13 7PS (Google map)
Telephone: 01202 708283
Website: https://thewatersportsacademy.com
The Watersports Academy occupies a prime waterside location at Sandbanks and offers one of Dorset’s widest selections of watersports activities. Alongside equipment hire, the academy provides professional tuition, private lessons and RYA windsurfing courses for both adults and young people.
| Windsurfing Hire | Price |
|---|---|
| Beginner Equipment (1 hour) | £20 |
| Intermediate Equipment (1 hour) | £25 |
| Advanced Equipment (1 hour) | £30 |
| Windsurfing Lesson | Price |
|---|---|
| Taster Lesson (1 hour) | £30 |
| Taster Lesson (2 hours) | £45 |
| Private Lesson (2 hours) | £90 |
Lessons include tuition, windsurfer and life jacket.
RYA adult and youth windsurfing courses are also available.
Windsurfing Lessons and Hire in Portland and Weymouth
Portland Harbour is one of Britain’s leading watersports venues and was one of the sailing venues for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The large, sheltered harbour provides excellent conditions for learning to windsurf, while the surrounding coastline offers more challenging conditions for experienced sailors when the weather is suitable.
Professional tuition is available throughout the season, with courses ranging from introductory sessions to nationally recognised RYA qualifications.
The Official Test Centre
Address: Osprey Quay, Portland, DT5 1SA
Telephone: 01305 230296
Website: https://otc-watersports.com
The Official Test Centre is based within the grounds of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. As well as windsurfing, the centre offers kitesurfing, wing foiling and paddleboarding tuition. Its location within the sheltered waters of Portland Harbour makes it one of Dorset’s leading centres for learning and improving windsurfing skills.
| Windsurfing Lessons | Price |
|---|---|
| Intro Session (Half Day) | £89 |
| Intro Session (Full Day) | £159 |
| RYA Start Windsurfing Course (2 days) | £289 |
| RYA Intermediate Windsurfing Course (2 days) | £289 |
| RYA Advanced Windsurfing Course (1 day) | £255 |
All courses include professional tuition and equipment.
Best Places to Windsurf in Dorset
Sandbanks and Poole Harbour
Sandbanks is Dorset’s most popular location for learning to windsurf. The sheltered waters of Poole Harbour remain relatively shallow close to the shore and are protected from large waves, making them ideal for beginners and improvers.
Several professional watersports schools operate from Banks Road and Shore Road, offering lessons, equipment hire and RYA courses throughout the main season. As confidence grows, experienced windsurfers can explore larger areas of the harbour when conditions are suitable.
Although Poole Harbour is generally calmer than the open sea, it remains a busy commercial and recreational harbour. Windsurfers should stay clear of navigation channels used by ferries, yachts and other vessels, and always follow any advice provided by their instructor or hire centre.
Portland Harbour
Portland Harbour is one of the UK’s premier windsurfing locations and attracts everyone from complete beginners to experienced competitors. The large expanse of comparatively sheltered water allows windsurfers to build confidence without the larger waves often found along the open coast.
The harbour’s international reputation, combined with excellent training facilities and reliable wind conditions, has made it one of the country’s leading venues for windsurfing instruction and RYA training.
Weymouth Bay
For experienced windsurfers, Weymouth Bay offers a more challenging open-water environment. Depending on the wind direction, the bay can provide faster sailing and larger waves than are normally found within Portland Harbour.
Because conditions can change rapidly and the bay is exposed to the English Channel, this area is best suited to confident windsurfers with appropriate experience and equipment.
Which Windsurfing Location Should You Choose?
| Location | Best For |
|---|---|
| Sandbanks | Beginners, lessons, equipment hire and sheltered harbour sailing |
| Portland Harbour | RYA courses, improving skills and sheltered open-water windsurfing |
| Weymouth Bay | Experienced windsurfers looking for more challenging coastal conditions |
Before You Go Windsurfing
Before heading onto the water, always check the latest weather forecast, wind strength and tide times. Windsurfing conditions can change quickly, particularly on the open coast, and stronger winds can make returning to shore much more difficult than anticipated.
Wear the buoyancy aid and wetsuit provided by the watersports centre, and make sure you understand the local sailing area before launching. If you are hiring equipment, listen carefully to the safety briefing and ask about local hazards, navigation channels and any areas that should be avoided.
Take a fully charged mobile phone in a waterproof pouch or container if possible, and let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return. Less experienced windsurfers should remain within the designated training area and avoid venturing into open water until they have gained sufficient experience.
Poole Harbour and Portland Harbour are both busy watersports areas used by sailing boats, motorboats, ferries and other water users. Keep well clear of marked navigation channels and always give larger vessels plenty of room to manoeuvre.
Many windsurfing centres operate seasonally and may suspend lessons or equipment hire during unsuitable weather conditions. Equipment availability, opening times and prices are subject to change, so it is always worth checking directly with the operator before travelling.
Information last updated: 25 July 2026
Related Pages: Boat Hire / Bike Hire / Paddleboarding / Kayaking / Dinghy Sailing / Surfing / Kitesurfing / Jet Skiing / Diving / Snorkelling / Horse Riding / Sea Fishing / Crabbing / Camping