Windsurfing UK

I'm new to the UK when it comes to windsurfing and have recently bought some kit after almost 15 years and am now looking at windsurfing locations in the UK. I have to admit, I have yet to find an informative Web site which simply details:

• What are all the locations one can safely windsurf.
• Map references. A good mechanism for this is Google maps.
• What conditions are best for this location.
• What level of windsurfing ability is required.

For all those which do have excellent windsurfing sites, this is not a criticism but I've been looking for a simple site which one can use as a quick reference. Perhaps its simply knowledge transferred via local knowledge an the windsurfing network.

Additional details which are useful:

• Local windsurfing shops or contact information to obtain current conditions.
• Things to be careful about.

I don't yet claim that this site satisfies those criteria, but my goal is that this becomes a useful resource. Obviously I'm limited to what I experience and the word of others. I continue to trawl the Web and am trying to distill the information I find into something that will hopefully be useful.

• Wind information
  • Great Britian Wind Map
  • Unitd Kingdom and Ireland Wind Watcher
• Windsurfing sites
  • UK Windsurfing Association
• Sailing related Web sites
  • Royal Yaughting Association (RYA)
• Windsurfing near Wilmslow, Cheshire
  • Astbury Sail Sports
  I live in Wilmslow (SK9) and windsurf here when weather and wind conditions are right. As far as I know, this is the closet location to try windsurfing from Wilmslow.
  • Crosby, Liverpool
  According to Forces Of Nature: "Crosby has a large sandy beach with a high sea wall behind it. As with other beaches in this area, it also has a large tidal range and conditions are dependent upon the state of the tide. It is good for windsurfing and kitesurfing although there are no real waves for surfing. The best place to sail from is the car park by the lifeboat station and although most states of the tide can be sailed, it can be a long walk to the water at low tide and on big high tides the water comes right up to the sea wall making access to the water difficult. It is however a good location for generally blasting around, especially in southerly winds. It doesn't get busy here and you are likely to be the only person out sailing. Lifeguards are on duty in the summer and there is parking and cafes nearby."
  • Southport
  According to Forces Of Nature: "Southport has a long sandy beach that is perfect for kite-buggying and kite-mountainboarding. I've only been here once, out of season and there was plenty of parking all along the beach and all the amenities you could need in the town. The tide goes out quite a way providing plenty of sand for land-based 'forces-of-nature' sports. At high tide windsurfing and surfing should be good here. There are also plenty of attractions for all the family at Southport, from Donkey rides to the recently restored Southport Pier. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months. Dogs are allowed on the beahes in certain areas, but restrictions apply in others. Southport is well signposted from the motorway network. A park and ride operates adjacent to the north of the beach, Southport railway station is approximately one mile from the beach."

  Although Redesmere Sailing Club is closer to Wilmslow, they do not allow windsurfing on their lake.