Fastnet Race 2011 by: Arthur Moore
On land and water, the Island is a sports lover’s paradise.
As demonstrated by its selection as an Official Pre-Games Training Camp for four Olympic sports – sailing, athletics, indoor volleyball and basketball – the Isle of Wight is a great place to practise many different outdoor and indoor activities. It has superb facilities including the Fairway Athletics Track, Medina Leisure Centre and Cowes Combined Sailing Clubs.
SAILING
The Isle of Wight is one of the world’s best-known sailing venues, with clubs on the Solent and Channel coasts. Two of the world’s most famous sailing events take place in the waters around the Island – the Round the Island Race, which features sailors of (…)
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all levels of experience, and Cowes Week, the king of sailing regattas, which attracts hundreds of boats and thousands of competitors, ranging from Olympic and world-class crew to weekend boaters.
Visitors who wish to undertake some beginner instruction should contact Medina Valley Centre, Newport. Sailing and canoeing courses are offered from Easter until the end of October, with most uptake among eight to 16-year-olds. The centre offers accommodation during school holidays.
Some of the Island’s sailing clubs offer more advanced tuition, while the Cowes-based UK Sailing Academy also offers facilities to Island visitors. For more information on the Island’s sailing clubs, boatyards, harbours and moorings as well as information on weather, tides and sailing events, see iwight.com or cowes.co.uk.
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WILD WIGHT WATER
While the Island may be best-known for yachting, it provides some of the best conditions in the UK for many other watersports. Windsurfing, kitesurfing and surfing are well established, with specialist stores, such as Earth, Wind and (…)
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Water at Shanklin, that will sell and service your gear. Wight Cycle Hire also rents out surfboards and kayaks. Wight Waters, located between Shanklin and Sandown beaches, offers tuition.
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SURFING
Island surfers head south, naturally! Depending on the weather conditions, most of the southern beaches from Freshwater Bay, Compton, Niton, Ventnor, Shanklin and Sandown round to Whitecliff Bay will get waves. The wide, sandy bay at (…)
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Compton is probably the most popular Island break, and winter swells can produce a mellow longboard wave against a stunning backdrop.
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KITESURFING
There’s been an explosion of interest in this extreme watersport and the Island has heaps of top spots. The north of the Island is excellent for beginners. Ryde and Seaview, with wide sandy beaches at low tide, offer superb learning (…)
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conditions and are patrolled by lifeguards during summer. Thorness Bay is another good learner spot; it’s used by the schools for kitesurfing classes, but watch out for strong tides.
The south-eastern side can be more challenging. Yaverland has a fairly wide, sandy beach and is a good spot for learners at low tide, although the beach is heaving during the summer months. Spring and autumn winds and Atlantic ground swells will challenge the most experienced riders off the western beaches, so unless you know what you’re up to, grab your binoculars and watch local legends from the headland at Compton and Brook!
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TOM COURT
Wightlink-sponsored West Islander Tom Court is one of the world’s best kitesurfers. The former British Kitesurfing Association champion designs his own boards and is sponsored by North Kiteboarding and Animal Clothing. He spends a lot (…)
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of time travelling on the world kitesurfing tour, but still loves to get out at Freshwater Bay and says the Island is a great place to kitesurf because
“it has a wide range of exciting conditions, from beginner’s beaches to spots that can challenge even the most experienced kitesurfer”.
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WINDSURFING
Thorness Bay on the Solent is a popular spot used by the windsurfing schools. The eastern harbour town of Bembridge is another great location, with calm water and a gently sloping beach making for great beginner and intermediate conditions. (…)
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It’s pretty safe but the water can get a bit hectic in summer. Colwell Bay is a popular flat-water bay that is ideal for windsurfers with a bit of experience, but beginners should generally be aware of strong currents further out to sea.
The pretty village of Brighstone and the beaches at Brook and Compton on the south-west coast have some of the best windsurfing conditions on the Island but can be pretty challenging depending on wind and wave conditions. Gurnard in the north tends to be a ‘locals’ spot.
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SEA-KAYAKING
If you are after a less hectic experience in the English briney, there’s a real sense of freedom to be gained from paddling around the Island in a sea kayak. As mentioned, Wight Cycle Hire rents out kayaks, and then there’s (…)
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Isle of Wight Sea Kayaking (IWSK) in Freshwater Bay, the Island’s specialist school which has scouted the best locations, including Newtown creek, the Yar River, Freshwater Bay, and the Needles and St Catherine’s tidal overfalls.
IWSK operates all year round, offering one-day and multi-day trips, as well as beginner’s courses. Instructor Owen Burson says, “the Island has a full range of waters, from sheltered creeks and harbours to big tidal overfalls – there’s something for everyone here”.
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STAY SAFE
With all open-water sports, safety is an issue – if you’re thinking of taking up sailing or any of the extreme water sports, you need to be a strong swimmer. Boards are not buoyancy aids and if you cannot handle the conditions without a board, (…)
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you shouldn’t be in the water. Waves at all of the Island’s beaches can vary according to the season, and wind and sea conditions, so if you are a novice and at all unsure, get local knowledge before you head out. islandbreaks.co.uk, the official website of Isle of Wight Tourism, has an excellent guide to all of the Island’s beaches.
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CYCLING
The Island has hundreds of miles of cycle routes to suit all, including scenic off-road trails and quiet country lanes (see pages 68-69). Serious mountain bikers will find the Island’s mix of chalky descents, rocky single-track trails and unforgiving climbs a real challenge.(…)
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Thrillseekers looking for some serious downhill action should head for the many trails over the Southern Downs around Shanklin and Ventnor. Those who take a more sedate approach to off-road biking will enjoy the spectacular scenery from public bridleways and designated cycle tracks. The best guide to the Island’s off-road bike trails is the Isle of Wight OS outdoor leisure map, no. 29.
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BEACH SOCCER
This highly acrobatic sport originated on the beaches of Brazil, but the Island plays host to the best and most competitive league in the UK. Sandown Sociedad is one of the UK’s biggest clubs and the England squad contains five Island league players. (…)
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The best way to experience beach soccer is to get on the sand and playthe game, and a number of participation and exhibition events take place on the Island throughout the summer, including Senior Cups, Schools Beach Soccer Festivals and coaching courses for all ages. More information can be found at iwbsa.com.
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HORSE RIDDING
There are a number of excellent riding schools across the Island, including Allendale Equestrian Centre, Godshill; Brickfields, Binstead; Hill Farm Riding School, Freshwater; Mountalifan Stables, Newport; and Sally’s Riding in Bembridge. (…)
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These all cater for visitors of all ages and abilities and offer a wonderful way to explore the Island’s many paths, bridleways and beaches. Race- goers should plan to visit the Island during March, when the Isle of Wight Grand National and amateur races take place at West Ashey Farm, Ryde. For more information on equestrian clubs and events, visit wighthorse.co.uk.
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TENNIS
Ryde Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (RLTCC) offers grass court facilities, while there’s one other club in Ryde, as well as clubs at Ventnor and Brighstone. The Gurnard Pines Health Club has five courts, year-round day- and (…)
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night tennis and a full coaching programme. The West Bay Club in Yarmouth has just employed top tennis coach Andrew Fisher who can arrange private lessons – contact westbayclub.co.uk for details.
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ARCHERY
Archery is a great family sport and is popular among people with disabilities, who often compete directly against able-bodied competitors. West Wight Archery in Newport and Wight Bowman in Ryde welcome beginners and operate all year round, (…)
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moving indoors for the winter months. Both of these clubs require you to undertake a beginner’s course before you are permitted to shoot on your own.
The Island has loads of other sports on offer including shooting, bowling, swimming, squash, paragliding, golf, fishing and tree climbing! You can find more information on these and other Island activities at wightlink.co.uk.
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