South Coast of Ireland Windsurfing Spots
The South Coast
- Dunmore East
This used to be where all the top Irish windsurfers came from in the Division
1 days, but windsurfing is not practiced here much any more. This place is
nice for long board sailing up the coast or sometimes a large swell can run up
the river mouth (not ridable as it is normally a wind blown swell), and can
create some interesting slalom sailing.
- Tramore
A nice soft ridable wave with cross shore winds in South Westerly's. This is
a long open beach facing the swells coming up the Irish sea. The shallow smooth
beach that shelves gently creates soft crumbling waves, ideal for beginning.
- Dungarvan
This is situated in a sheltered inlet that can be very good when the wind is
very strong with nice flat water. Very good for slalom sailing in nearly all
wind directions.
- Clonea Strand
This is an open beach and has potential for some good waves, the Clonea Strand
Hotel overlooks the beach.
- Cobh
Cobh is a nice little town on the island of Cobh. Windsurfing is normally from
a bay just outside the town but some people do launch from the jetty's in the
centre of town (in front of Eddie English's International Sailing Centre). Beware
of a strong current here in the direction of the tide (up to 5 knots) and the boats
that ply the waters as this is the enterance to Cork harbour (the Ferries, the
container ships, the Navy ships - the lanes are not very wide and they cannot get
out of your way; the mail boat that goes out to Spike Island, which is a prison
(so don't land on it), because it does not get out of your way). Sailing down in
the bay is much nicer. A race around the Island takes place each year, a distance
of 20 miles, two bridges to negotiate, and the tide, a real marathon. The record
is .. and was set by ..
- Oysterhaven
Where all the Corkonians learnt to windsurf in the late 80's, a nice little
sheltered bay, ideal for learning. Many a long boarder has sailed here and enjoyed
the scennary, in the sail out to Sovereign Island.
- Coolmaine
The wave spot near Cork, is a southerly facing beach, South Westerly is side on
shore and this bay can get some nice swells. The waves are well spaced and roll in
over the flat bottom. The novelty about this spot is that you launch behind the
waves and sail down to the waves.
- Garretstown
Another wave spot similar to Coolmaine. The beach faces south west and catches
bigger swells than Coolmaine and is best in a south easterly or a north westerly
when the tide is coming in.
Back to the Irish Windsurfing Spots (text)
Last updated November 1998
Created by joem@s3dub.ie
(c) Copyright 1998 IWA