Name:

Calshot Spit

Beach description:

Calshot Spit is a great location for kitesurfing (and windsurfing/SUP/kayaking) with a variety of sailing conditions from butter flat water to rolling swell at high tide. The spit is divided between two different local authorities – the area along the beach huts, up to the activity centre entrance, is part of New Forest District Council. The grounds of Calshot Activity Centre are controlled by Hampshire County Council. Kiting from the official ‘kite beach’ in the HCC Activity Centre is by annual club membership only. Kiting from the NFDC ‘car park’ between the beach huts is unregulated at present. If you choose to kite Calshot without joining the Club, please do so respectfully to help us maintain access for kiting at this location. The wind directions for the kite beach & car park launches are: NE - Cross shore from the left SE - Onshore SW - Cross shore from the right Wind directions that work for the pond behind the spit: NNW around to NE Wind directions that don't work anywhere at Calshot are NW or W. Basically the wind is off the land & the power station blocks it in a NW. Local kiters go to Lepe Beach in a W or over to Meon Shore in a NW.

Beach Access

From M27, off at J2, follow brown tourist signs to National Motor Museum, on A326 follow brown tourist signs to Calshot Activities Centre. Turn left at beach huts & go steady up the road. Car park on your right between the beach huts. Activities Centre entrance at the end of the road. 24-7 Boardsports is the small white building on the right. Park on the grass on the left.

Code of Conduct

Pond - Accessible for kiters between 1st November & 31st March. The launch for the pond is from the beach by the Sopwith hangar (members only), or over by the power station (public). Only kite at high tide. The bottom is muddy & you need to be able to stay upwind. Don't overfly the road on the southern side of the pond. Even if you're not a member, PLEASE respect the summer closure on the pond. Kiting from the beach huts car park requires no permit; you pay to park between April & November.

Wind Direction

North-East, East, South-East, South, South-West

Water Type

Calshot offers up a variety of sailing conditions from butter flat water to rolling swell at high tide. Something for everyone! There is no room at the car park spot to launch at high tide. It's sketchy at best so be careful.

Hazards

Launch The space for launching at kite beach is not that big if it’s busy. Keep it tidy & wind your lines up if you’re not going out. There is no landing on the beach further east of the windsock - there's basically no beach, just the sea wall. Kite beach will be closed (red flag flying) at high tide in a SE onshore wind. Obstacles The kite beach itself is relatively free of obstacles. There are however several large buildings next to the beach so be aware of wind effects. There are some submerged concrete blocks in front of Houston House, but these are clearly marked by a green buoy. From the car park there are groins, cars, beach huts & the general public to dodge - especially in the summer. Shipping lane To the east of the spit, up Southampton Water, is a busy shipping lane. It’s well marked - don't kite in it. Tide There is a lot of water moving around the spit. Wind with tide will make it hard to hold your ground once the sand bar is covered. Anglers Calshot is popular with worm drowners. They don't like kiters, stay clear. UXB We have had few bits of old munitions wash up on the bar at low tide recently. The army bomb disposal squad will likely shut the beach for hours, so don't call them before your session! If you find something suspect just don't tail tap it 😉