Hythe and Saltwood Sailing club (HSSC) near Folkestone in Kent is home to one of most active windsurfing clubs in Britain. A thriving racing, freeride, social and Team 15 scene is set right on a beach and they get a whole range of conditions. If you are a commuting windsurfer, then it is less than an hour from the M25 and well worth it.
- Beach Faces:
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South-east.
- Best Wind Direction:
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South-west which is cross-on.
- Best Wind Direction For Waves:
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At low tide we get a good wave with a south-west wind but it ain’t Cornwall!
- Not Good:
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North-east, North.
- Tide:
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Yes, it goes in and out but you won’t notice it once on the water!
- What’s On The Bottom:
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Sand at low tide, shingle at mid and high tide.
- Any Hazards:
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Rock groyne on the left.
- Other Water Users:
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Kitesurfers, swimmers, and sailors (it is a sailing club after all).
- Suitability / Levels:
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All levels. If you become a member of the club there is plenty of gear, storage and rescue.
- Wipeout Factor:
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Not so high whilst sailing, but the shorebreak can humiliate even the hardest of men.
- Instruction:
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Yes, for adults and kids on Thursday evenings (during the summer) and on Saturdays.
- Kit Hire:
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Not for hire, but supplied if you are a member of the Club.
- Friendly Factor:
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Very friendly, there is a bar on site and plenty of obsessed windsurfers who just love to talk kit!
- No Wind Alternatives:
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Very friendly, there is a bar on site and plenty of obsessed windsurfers who just love to talk kit!
Facilities:
| Toilets |
Yes, in the club. |
|---|---|
| Shower |
Yes, in the club. |
| Windsurfing Shop |
Active in Folkestone. |
| Food |
Club food and a nearby very posh fish restaurant in Hythe Bay. |
| Parking |
There is parking on the road, but it is busy during the weekend. |
| Pub |
The Hope Pub is very good. |
- Accommodation:
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Go to www.hythe-kent.com for info on where to stay, where to eat plus a history of the town!
- Local Hotshots:
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Elliot Carney, Greame Fuller, a lot of up and coming Team 15 sailors including Jack Brooks, Andrew Petts, Claudia Carney, William Lama and William Hurrell so watch out!
- Local Knowledge / Secrets:
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Low tide in a south-west wind gets a nice bit of shore break/wave. In a north-east go to Dimchurch, the opposite bit of headland to Camber.
- Extra:
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They welcome anyone at the club, just go in and get a membership form. There are really good regular social events, and the occasional “hot” head windsurfers!
Club Fees: Annual membership for an adult is £85, Family is £105, Student is £35 and U18 is £25. You can also store your kit here for £5 outside and £25 for a indoor rack.
Go to their website: www.HSSC.net
- How To Get There:
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Take the M20 off the M25 and head to Folkestone. Take Junction 11 and follow the signs to Hythe. Once you get to Hythe then follow the one-way system towards Folkestone. Go past a park and take your first right. This road goes to the sea. Carry on to the sea, or to go to the sailing club by taking the last left and then your first right.
- Report By:
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Clyde Waite
