Dollymount Beach - This is where you will find all the wavesailers
of Dublin. It is 5 minutes from the centre of Dublin. The best wind
direction is South West, the prevailing wind, where it is side shore
with starboard jumps. South East is on shore and can be good when
strong. The best time for good waves is 3 hours either side of high tide.
The tide those go out about half a mile at low tide so be warned. The
waves are not powerful but can reach mast high on good days.
Dollymount beach is on a small island connected to the mainland by a
bridge and a causeway.
Poolbeg - works in the same wind directions as Dollymount but is
not as popular due to the very long walk at low tide. The waves are a
bit smaller but you get longer rides at high tide. Closer to the south
side of the city than Dollymount so frequented by those in a hurry.
Salthill - Mainly slalom sailing in anything from Westerly's
through to Easterly's via the North, i.e. North East wind is on shore.
Slalom sailors interested in long blasts like this beach because in
North Westerly's (the second prevailing wind) they can blast across the
bay, very enjoyable. The chop is short and knee jerking at times but gets
flatter in behind the peir. Salthill is behind Dun Laoighaire Harbour.
Very seldom do you get waves here, usually after a week of on shore winds,
which is common in early autumn. Can get crowded in the summer months
with beginners and on the relatively warm days a sea breeze can pick up
at around 14:00. If you are very courageous you can sail out to the Kish,
a lighthouse 14 miles offshore, in a Northerly, great fun!
Sutton - Sutton is at the North end of Dollymount beach and when the
tide is going out (funnelling out from the back of the island) it can be
very strong here. This is the speed sailors paradise with a sand spit about
50 metres off shore and a South Westerly blows straight on shore, so
behind the spit is a great speed channel. Though do be wary off the sand
spit moving leaving you high and dry. This sand spit becomes visible about
an hour after high tide and the water gets smoother the further the tide
goes out. At high tide the sand spit can kick up some nice hollow waves
especially when the tide is going out (wave against tide). A nice trip is a
quick sail up to the wave spot at Dollymount.
Malahide - This is an estuary to the North of Dublin and is best in
a westerly wind. It is about 1-2 km across and 5 km long.It is popular
because you can stand nearly every where and the shore is always nearby if
you get into trouble. Can get very crowded as it is small enough, but in
the winter you will always be able to find somebody windsurfing here if you
cannot find somebody elsewhere.