Alton Water Sports Centre, UK
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About Alton Water Sports Centre
Known for sailing and windsurfing, by the OpenStreetMap map of the area. The shore faces SE, so wind from the NW blows out to sea (our estimate from the coastline). Facts: verified.
Water about 15°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
A spot for sailing and windsurfing, as OpenStreetMap maps it, on a shore facing SE. Wind from the SE blows onshore, wind from the NW blows out to sea, and wind from the SW or NE runs along the shore. It is sheltered to the open sea. The sea is about 7°C in January, its coldest month (5/4 or 6/5, hood, boots and gloves), and 19°C in August, its warmest (2 mm shorty). For sailing at beginner level the best months are usually April, May, June and July, with about 3 good days in 7; in January, about 1. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Ipswich England.
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From Chicago: about 14 h 50 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to LHR, direct.
See flights ORD → LHR · Skyscanner from about £395 returnAdGetting there. 2 h 25 from the airport to Alton Water Sports Centre.
Accommodation.
Stay in Ipswich EnglandAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Ipswich England (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Ipswich England 16 min by car · rooms from £95 a night
Places to stay in Ipswich England · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Sailing lessons in Ipswich England · GetYourGuideAdBoat hire in Ipswich England · GetYourGuideAd
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Alton Water Sports Centre on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
Best on Mon 19: 9 kn gusting 17, side-onshore. Water: chop.
The score for sailing, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor
| Day | Score | Wind | Gusts | Shore | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 0, poor | wind from the north-north-west, 7 knotsF3 | 15kn | offnot safe | chop |
| Mon 19Oct | 68, good | wind from the east-south-east, 9 knotsF3 | 17kn | side-on | chop |
| Tue 20Oct | 0, poor | wind from the east-south-east, 12 knotsF4 | 23kn | side-on | chop |
| Wed 21Oct | 0, poor | wind from the south, 14 knotsF4 | 26kn | side-on | chop |
| Thu 22Oct | 67, good | wind from the west-south-west, 8 knotsF3 | 16kn | side | flat |
| Fri 23Oct | 0, poor | wind from the south-west, 21 knotsF5 | 47kn | side | chop |
| Sat 24Oct | 0, poor | wind from the west, 11 knotsF4 | 28kn | cross-off | chop |
| Sun 25Oct | 0, poor | wind from the west, 14 knotsF4 | 26kn | cross-off | chop |
| Mon 26Oct | 0, poor | wind from the south-west, 16 knotsF4 | 32kn | side | chop |
| Tue 27Oct | 0, poor | wind from the south-south-west, 11 knotsF4 | 24kn | side-on | 0.8 mwaves |
Day scores are the conditions out of 80. Wind is the day's best reading: the mean and the gusts in knots (10 kn is about 19 km/h); the arrow points where it blows to. Shore: "side" is side-shore, blowing along the beach, the safe way; "side-on" and "on" blow in towards it; "cross-off" and "off" blow out to sea, and offshore scores nothing for kite and windsurf. Water is the open sea's waves near the spot: flat under 0.3 m, chop to 0.8 m.
The season
Good sailing days in a typical week, each month, from 2016 on (ERA5 history scored the same way).
- Jan1of 7
- Feb2of 7
- Mar2of 7
- Apr3of 7
- May3of 7
- Jun3of 7
- Jul3of 7
- Aug3of 7
- Sep2of 7
- Oct2of 7
- Nov2of 7
- Dec2of 7
Typical, not a forecast. Reanalysis wind misses some local thermal winds, so a spot known for an afternoon breeze may do better than this.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for sailing. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight ORD to LHR, then 2h 25 by road. About 14h 50 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Not enough of the right wind: 12 kn gusting 23, side-onshore. Water: chop.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Not enough of the right wind: 14 kn gusting 26, side-onshore. Water: chop.
- Thu 22 OctSail Alton Water Sports Centre
8 kn gusting 16, side-shore. Water: flat.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Not enough of the right wind: 21 kn gusting 47, side-shore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: chop.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Not enough of the right wind: 11 kn gusting 28, cross-offshore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: chop.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight ORD to LHR, then 2h 25 by road. About 14h 50 door to door
Rough cost
About £1,025–£1,925 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing. A guide from typical prices, not a quote. Kit hire is not in it yet: we have no sourced price for it.
- Flights £395–£820
- To the UK airport £35–£65
- Hire car £105–£175
- Stay £250–£420
- Food £240–£445
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
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