In Herne Bay there are two places to launch, Neptune in the town and Hampton to the west. Both have specific benefits but we tend to use Neptune most of the time out of high season. There are no launch fees at either site.

Neptune
Located right on the main town seafront. There are two slipways off the car park, an extra wide one which feeds into the harbour and a narrower one that leads into the transit lane. The wide slip is quite a gentle descent into the sheltered harbour (8 knot limit) but drys sooner than the steeper narrower slip. We get the occasional fishing boat or speedboat on the smaller ramp - especially if they have missed the tide on the wide slip, but normally we have it all to ourselves.

On the foreshore there is a tap and showers at the top of the narrower slip, but these are turned off out of season. In very busy periods the tap is often turned off to stop people clogging the top of the ramp with craft.
Next to the transit lane on the right is the swimming lane, you are allowed in this area but you must not exceed 8 knots - it's seperated by yellow marker buoys. More of a problem are swimmers in the ski lane. However, WASP are very good at trying to keep them out!

There are the normal seaside town ameneties, cafe's, pubs, amusement arcades and chip shops etc. The car park costs £10 (note JAWS members recieve a 50% Discount) for all day parking for car & trailer but drops to £1.60 out of season. Right opposite the narrower slip on the corner of William Street is The Bun Penny pub serving Shepherd Neame beers - No Fokker comes close! It has a beer garden out the front overlooking the sea. On the opposite corner is Morrelli's, a typical Italian style coffee shop, for those cold days i'm glad they serve take away coffee.

ShorePlay is just a few doors down, this is a great place for wetsuits & drysuits, wakeboards and waterski's - he also does batteries,plugs and all those things you forgot to pack! The owner of Shoreplay also runs http://www.wakesport.com/ and gives discount to club members in the shop. There is a reasonable Texaco petrol station in the High street, so you won't have to tow a full ski down the motorway!

Getting to Herne Bay is fairly easy, take the M2 to Faversham then when the motorway ends keep going straight on toward Margate on the A299 dual carriageway. After about 10 miles take the Herne Bay turning, take 2nd exit at the roundabout then 1st at the next - You are now in Canterbury Rd. only a mile to go, follow this road and go straight across the mini roundabout and again at the traffic lights. The road drops down and to the left along the sea front - mind the speed humps!  If you want to use your own mapping or route software use the postcode CT6 5JG.

To find Hampton from Neptune drive along the seafront over all the speed humps keeping the sea on your right. Eventually the road drops down a hill and makes a sharp left turn, you are now in Hampton bay. Take the first right the car park is 50yds on the left.

Hampton
A rural beach of pebbles with a wooden slatted slipway. The slip is available about 2 hrs either side of high tide it leads down to semi hard mud and is accessed by a narrow concrete road. When it's getting low get out quick as the sea bed is very flat and there may be a queue to use the ramp. If it's getting desperate get someone to drive down to Neptune with your trailer and come out there.

A dedicated Jetski lane has been provided to the east of the wide launch lane, the Jetski lane is speed derestricted and can get quite choppy with everyone wavejumping and doing donuts. The launch lane is useable by any craft and has an 8 knot limit like everywhere else along the shore out to 300 metres. Yellow buoys are provided at the 8 knot limit all along the coast for safety.

Hampton has a newly surfaced Pay & Display car within 100 metres of the ramp. There are toilets right by the slip, and a pub within a few hundred yards. Behind the beach is a promenade that stretches past the main seafront to Beltinge eastward, and past Swalecliffe & Tankerton and on to Whitstable to the west. There is a reasonable stretch of green between the prom and car park, several large bbq's have been held there in the past. Hamton is the base for the councils WASP [Water and Shore Patrol] launch, a great bunch of folks who will hand out free tide tables and advice.

The town most famous for its oysters has plenty of little cafes and art galleries too. Unlike Herne Bay the harbour is a commercial one and there is a great wet fish shop there. You can mix with kitesurfers and water skiers here - home ground of world record waterskier Liz Hobbs.