Surf: Windslop for the desperate is the norm at the ‘Hotpipe’. Sandbar anchored by power station outfall. Environment: Easy parking by beach. Surf: General: In big storm conditions waves break inside the harbour arm, cleaned up and sheltered from the wind. This strange scenario is almost a proto-wavepool type set-up - swell is funnelled in and breaks between the concrete walls, producing both rights and lefts. On the eastern outside of the arm there is also a series of rights and lefts, each more exposed, with the most consistent being the Hotpipe - the outflow from the nearby power plant. Beware of the beach furniture - there are many groynes and break waters as the tide pushes in. Tides: Low to near high. Size: Thigh high to overhead. Wind: N Swell: W/SW Bottom: Sand and shingle. Paddling: Easy when small, can be hard work when onshore. Spot Rating: Fun waves when the Channel comes to life, with a slightly crazed local crew. Access: Parking by beach at Basin Road car park. Crowds: Crowd Factor: If there's a wave the crowd will be on it. Local Vibe: Pretty chilled. Environment: Can be polluted after rains. Hazards: Groynes, rips, pollution. Season: September - February are best when the big swells roll into the Channel.