Hi there it sounds like your bay has been wind burnt, mine suffer from same prob, but then I do live near a beach. I don't think you can prevent this apart from wrapping up your plants.

hi thanks, thechicken,i live close to the sea it tends to get very windy here

glad you bought this up my 6 year old bay tree for the 1st time has started to do this only on the one side.And thats the non sheltered side .the part of the tree nearest the house is perfectly ok.
Even my hubby reckoned it was wind burn