Poole Harbour
 Take the A350 towards Poole, turning east on the A35 as you approach.
Drive straight through Poole following the signs for "beaches" and
Sandbanks and keep going along the edge of the harbour until you see the
harbour itself immediately on your right hand side. For Whitley Lake,
park on the right and rig up.
Conditions
A little difficult to describe since the whole area is a "bay" with the
road/launch area going round 90 degrees.
N & NE are about the only wind directions we can't fully recommend, but
only because it's gusty.
Hazards
This is one of the UK's safest marine windsurfing spots. However, if you
do venture further afield, the deep water channel is very busy with
traffic - most of it of the gin palace variety, with the occasional Sea
Cat or car ferry thrown in for good measure. If you get in their way,
they won't see you or feel a thing when they run over you. Don't try to
assert your right of sail having priority over power!
The deep water channel gets very choppy, & the currents are stronger
here.
Keep well away from the harbour entrance & the chain ferry.
Pubs and eateries
Untested cafes on promenade near Sandbanks car park.
Mr Chips (Ian) says:
"Poole is blessed with some amazing fish and chip shops, my favourite
three shops in the country are all in the Poole Harbour area and I
really wish the rest of our seaside towns would take note."
One of the very best fish and chip shops in the country (it was actually
runner up in a country wide competition - I haven't found the winner
yet) is on the roundabout in Poole that has the civic centre in the
middle of it. This fish and chip shop (and its sister shop a couple of
miles down the road towards Bournemouth) are almost worth a trip on their
own right. Not stopping to get your supper here on the way home should
be considered a crime because these two shops are truly excellent and
provide a fantastic range of fish together with a variety of cooking
methods.
Tidal conditions
 HW springs tend to be 09:30 - 10:00 and again 14:00. HW neaps are 14:30
- 18:30.
It's easier to go by LW times here, though: LW springs are around 17:00;
LW neaps around 09:00 - 13:00 (yes - the neap tides really rush by!).
All times are GMT.
Like the rest of Poole Harbour, there is a double high tide around
springs. ie: The tide comes in, goes out a little, then comes back in a
little before disappearing as if down a drain.
Facilities
Parking along the harbour wall - at a price (£1.80 for 3 hrs in April
2003). The parking meters don't give change.
French Connection Water sports opposite the Sandbank car park and Poole
Harbour Board Sailing are both close to Whitley Lake with equipment for
sale, hire and demo.
There is an ice-cream shop on the short road between Whitley Lake and
Sandbanks.
Cafes and beach shops along the promenade, near the Sandbanks car park.
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