Overview

Sandbanks is a renowned spot at the entrance of Poole Harbour in Dorset. The peninsula offers two bodies of water: the ocean beach on the Channel side and flat water in the harbour on the inner side. It is one of the most popular spots in southern England, with consistent conditions and an exceptional setting facing Brownsea Island.

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Spot forecast for sandbanks

Sunrise 07:38 · Sunset 18:06

Open-Meteo

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

Swell and tides over 8 days. Premium members see the swell and tides over 8 days. Without a subscription: 5 days.

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Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

Tides

Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 4.5 km from the spot.

Tuesday 20 October High tide 00:19 · 1.2 m Low tide 02:27 · 1 m High tide 05:33 · 1.6 m Low tide 06:56 · 1.5 m High tide 08:52 · 1.7 m Low tide 12:04 · 1.4 m High tide 12:26 · 1.4 m Low tide 14:51 · 1.2 m High tide 17:39 · 1.7 m Low tide 19:47 · 1.5 m High tide 21:00 · 1.5 m
Wednesday 21 October Low tide 00:43 · 1.1 m High tide 01:10 · 1.1 m Low tide 02:50 · 1 m High tide 06:16 · 1.7 m Low tide 07:52 · 1.6 m High tide 09:38 · 1.7 m Low tide 13:13 · 1.2 m High tide 13:47 · 1.2 m Low tide 15:11 · 1.2 m High tide 18:21 · 1.7 m Low tide 20:42 · 1.5 m High tide 21:44 · 1.5 m
Thursday 22 October Low tide 01:20 · 0.9 m High tide 06:55 · 1.8 m Low tide 08:49 · 1.6 m High tide 10:18 · 1.7 m Low tide 13:43 · 1.1 m High tide 19:00 · 1.8 m Low tide 21:40 · 1.4 m High tide 22:22 · 1.5 m
Friday 23 October Low tide 01:55 · 0.8 m High tide 07:32 · 1.9 m Low tide 09:48 · 1.6 m High tide 10:55 · 1.6 m Low tide 14:18 · 1 m High tide 19:37 · 1.9 m
Saturday 24 October Low tide 02:33 · 0.7 m High tide 08:06 · 2 m Low tide 10:49 · 1.6 m High tide 11:27 · 1.6 m Low tide 14:55 · 0.8 m High tide 20:10 · 2 m

sandbanks: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

279h

in June · 26.5 rideable days

The season runs from April to August, peaking in June: 24 rideable days a month and 279 hours of usable wind, at 19 °C. The low point is January, at 13.5 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 77%13-20 knots · 21%21-30 knots · 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 77% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 7 °C. The wettest month is January, with 129 mm.

Monthly averages: sandbanks

Monthly averages — sandbanks — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	13.5	115 h	7 °C	129 mm
February	20.0	177 h	9 °C	125 mm
March	18.0	192 h	11 °C	84 mm
April	22.0	210 h	14 °C	52 mm
May	21.5	204 h	17 °C	81 mm
June	26.5	279 h	20 °C	29 mm
July	25.5	253 h	21 °C	49 mm
August	25.5	266 h	21 °C	50 mm
September	16.0	178 h	18 °C	109 mm
October	18.0	160 h	15 °C	106 mm
November	18.0	144 h	11 °C	103 mm
December	16.5	131 h	9 °C	102 mm

Photo gallery of sandbanks

This spot is waiting for its first images

Ridden here? One photo or video, and the spot comes alive for everyone discovering it.

Technical details of sandbanks spot

The spot works with winds from SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW.

Depending on conditions: E, ESE, SE, W.

RideableDepending on conditions Not rideable

Spot opening date · Required level

Spot opening date: Open all year round
Required level: Intermediate

Parking

Paid parking at Sandbanks. Very busy in summer and on windy weekends. Arriving early is recommended. Alternative parking further away at Canford Cliffs.

Hazards

Strong tidal currents at the entrance of Poole Harbour. Do not sail in the main channel. Ferry traffic (Sandbanks chain ferry). Shifting sandbanks.

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Swanage Pier8.7 kmsource channelcoast

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Additional stations

EW0531 Poole UK7 km

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source madis - NOAA
DW6648 Broadstone UK8.3 km

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source madis - NOAA

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Webcams near sandbanks

Webcams provided by Windy.com

Nearby spots

All spots: England

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sandbanks kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot