The Causeway Coast is an area of rugged beauty on the northern Coast of Northern Ireland, famed for its natural attractions and history but most recently rising to global prominence as a filming location for the ‘Game of Thrones’ series. For windsurfing, the area is also rich in wavesailing due to its coastline facing the North Atlantic and at its western end lies one of its jewels – Benone beach. Timo Mullen talks us through the spot and his last session there in the company of Adam Lewis and John Carter.
I was born and raised in Northern Ireland, so it feels really strange to think I have not written an article about wavesailing there for a very long time! I frequen`tly travel from England to catch a good swell on the west coast of Ireland, and often stay on for a few extra days to sail the north coast of Northern Ireland. It’s a pretty common scenario for a low pressure to hit Ireland’s west coast bringing with it S and SW winds and then track north east with winds veering to the W and NW which is side-shore on the north coast of Northern Ireland, add in some NW or N swell and this is a wavesailor’s paradise!
REWIND
My last windsurfing trip back home was with Adam and JC and was pretty laid back as far as Motley Crew trips go! We had no fixed plan for the day other than our Stena Line ferry from Belfast to Liverpool, which departed in the evening at 2200. We woke up that morning in NW Ireland at Magheroarty, county Donegal, having had an epic wavesailing session the previous day. As predicted the swell had dropped slightly and the wind had swung more onshore, not ideal for Magheroarty but looking perfect for the north coast of Northern Ireland. From Donegal it’s a pretty easy 2½-hour drive to get there and is along one of the most beautiful coastlines in Europe. A ‘cheesy’ tourist tip on the way is to visit the most photographed road sign in Ireland in a small village called Muff. Yes, the “Welcome to Muff” sign is 100% genuine and does seem to attract many people for a photo opportunity for some unknown reason!
However, unlike years gone by, none of us were here for Muff, we were here to score classic wind and waves, so we bypassed any tourist distractions and headed straight for Benone Strand which was the beach on the north coast most suitable to the W/NW swell and freshening west winds.
Denne historien er fra Issue 379 - September 2018-utgaven av Windsurf.
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Denne historien er fra Issue 379 - September 2018-utgaven av Windsurf.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
New School
Slingshot’s windsurfing brand manager, Wyatt Miller, has noticed that kids are drawn to playing with wings and puts forward an interesting case as to why he thinks this could help entice them and others into windsurfing.
Changes
Wave sailor Flo Jung reflects on our changed world during his lockdown in Germany.
THE LAST WAVE
Lockdown stirred the creative juices of reader Björn Alfthan, who peers into the future to present a fictional story set in the wild waves of Norway, five years from now.
STILL IN THE GAME
After a horrific fracture in his leg from a crashed aerial in 2018, Alessio Stillrich is back! John Carter talks to the highflyer from Gran Canaria about his move to the Simmer team, recovering from injury and how he learned to windsurf in Gran Canaria!
MOVE ON UP - GET ON THE FRONT FOOT
This month we look at how our front foot weighting can affect and improve different aspects of our main windsurfing moves.
SOUTH' KIPA
Nik tweaking it over home waters.
A NEW NORMAL
On a trip to La Tranche-sur-Mer in France last year, Tris Best estimated over 80% of the windsurfers were foiling. This summer in Portland Harbour, foiling activity has increased dramatically too he reports. With the market offering plenty of choice to recreational windfoilers, our test team check out some of the latest foil offerings.
TACKING – THE SEQUEL
Having given you time to practice, Harty concludes his tacking series by critiquing various tacking options, including the carve tack, as well as offering solutions to common slip-ups.
‘NO VAPOUR TRAILS TO SCAR THE SKY' *
Realising we may be about to enter an extraordinary period in our lives, Harty decided to keep a windsurf-centric lockdown diary. Here are some of his choice excerpts.
REDEMPTION DAY!
Renowned for its windsurfing and variety of spots to sail at, Kimmerdige Bay is a wave sailing jewel on the south coast of England. Timo Mullen gives a guide to its shores while reflecting on why a recent session there was a reminder that there is no place like home!
