History

West Wittering has been a popular windsurf beach since the late 70's, when windsurfers would turn up on the beach with their old dacron sails and one design windsurf boards.

In the original days windsurfers from London including Peter Hart, Steve West, Dee Caldwell and Simon Bornhoft would regularly visit the beach. Along with hundreds of weekend windsurfers who piled in to go windsurfing when windsurfing was in its boom time.

The Windsurf Club was originally set up in the 1980's by Barry from Westhampnett Lake - in the mid 80's it was taken over by Dee Caldwell and in the early 90's we took it over.

Due to the popularity of windsurfing at West Wittering there became problems between beach users and windsurfers. Byelaws were introduced to control the windsurfers and by the early 90's the owners, West Wittering Estate were frustrated with accidents and complaints from beach users and residents. There was talk of the windsurfing club being moved to the edge of East Head and serious discussions that windsurfing would be banned throughout the summer season.

At this point we introduced some control measures and a beach management system which included rescue to satisfy the safety requirements that West Wittering Estate required. Since 1991 this system has proved successful even with the introduction of kitesurfing the system works highly effectively.

Over the years West Wittering has been the host to many top competitions including BWA events, wave sailing events, kitesurf events and the 2XS Windsurf magazine demo weekends.

Many top pros have visited West Wittering including Alex Aguera, Pete Cabrinha, Jason Prior, Josh Stone, Graham Ezzy, Nik Baker, Guy Cribb, Aaron Hadlow Current Kitesurf World Champion, Timo Mullen, Dave White, John Skye, Danny Seales, Jamie Hawkins, Franciso Goya, Cindy Mosey, Andrea Wharry, Julian Anderson, Finian Maynard, Scott Mckerchar, Chris Audsley, Nigel Howell, Mark Woods, Robby Swift, Paul Hunt, the late Andy Funnell, Karin Jaggi, Tris Boxford and Will James.

In 2005 after two years of hard battling with planners and local residents a new changing rooms and showers facility has been built with the support of West Wittering Estate which includes a solar powered eco hot water system, kitchen and dry room.

At the Windsurf Club we run our windsurf and kitesurf school where we teach kids from 5 years old in our rippers program as well as advanced and beginners course for adults.