Duncan Sheldon – Wavesailor – South Wales

Living in Barry favourite sailing spots include local spots The Knap and The Island and some great breaks just a few miles away.

Favourite forecast sites vary according to long or short range requirements. XCWeather offers most optimistic forecast, so that’s normally first. Magic Seaweed is normally next, as can check swell and tides too in order to anticipate which spots will be best. For long range forecasts, the one that looks most windy is usually my favourite.

For shorter range details, will continue to alternate furiously between the above, but will also add in BBC or Met Office forecasts for a different ( and often more modest perspective).

Will also check out weather conditions, as around here, cloudy / clear skies can make a big difference. Local knowledge and GCSE Geography enable me to spot a ‘windy’ sky. Magic Seaweed beach cams and linked wave buoy data are handy for accessing swell in almost real time. Computer wiz Rod has also created a great app that gets the most recent feed from Saint Athan Airbase. Nice.

Rest of local and Welsh windsurfing scene are good for eyeballs vie Facebook and Boards based forums. Particularly good when lack of flexi time locks me down during dark months. Can turn them off too.