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Brandon Bay is one of the best place in Europe (maybe the world) for a windsurf trip. With many different beach options all within 7 miles of each other giving a huge amount of options for any given wind or swell direction.
For traveling sailors the amount of options to sail is a problem in itself, I often meet people who have sailed at the wrong part of the beach on any given day so this guide is to help you out when you come to Brandon Bay.
(After plenty of requests I have included a map at the bottom ;-)
The Beaches
The Beaches
Starting from the Left Side of the Bay making our way North towards Spillanes
1)Fermoyle
1)Fermoyle
Best Wind- West wind, Windguru needs to be showing at least 25 knots for it to work well, As the wind is blocked by the hills. Can also be sailed at low tide NW wind cross-on when the reefs on the Maharees are dry.
Swell North or northwest. Sheltered by Brandon head so gets less swell than most of Brandon bay. But when there is a 10m swell running it can still be very big!
Tide
Okay at all tides. It can be very good for Jumping and cross wave riding. It isn't the most powerful wave, Great fun and good for all levels of wave sailors.
2)Killcummin
2)Killcummin
Best winds- West or South West (*Too much south in the wind will be too offshore*)
Swell
Gets anything from north to west. Swell magnet in a north swell.
Tide
All tides.
Fun in west wind giving Cross/Cross on port tack. Can pick up the SW wind a little earlier than Gowlane giving cross off DTL when you could not sail Gowlane. Catches less swell than Gowlane.
Easier parking on the beach.
3)Gowlane
3)Gowlane
Wind
South west is best.
Swell
North through to west. Anything from 1M at 8 seconds will give a good wave.
Tide
Best on the push mid to high but works all through the tide.
In The prevailing southwest wind Gowlane is more about riding than jumping.
Works in everything from knee high to mast high. Can be down the line heaven.
When it is big it can be hard to get out through walls of white water. Board volume helps on those Easy to miss a session here as any forecast of SW wind with 8 knots of wind can be enough to float and ride on a 5.0
4)Stradbally
4)Stradbally
Wind
South West, South south-west.
Swell
North West to North
Tide
Best at mid to high.
When the wind is too offshore at Gowlane here is the spot to go. Often less windy than Gowlane.
Straight out front tends to be a close-out. Try going upwind of the parking area for better waves.
Parking can be very tight.
5)Stoney Gap
5)Stoney Gap
Wind
South or North winds
Swell
West swell
Tide
Best mid to high
Hard to drive to without a 4X4 outside of summer. Gets southwinds better than Dumps and can get better waves if a lot of north in the swell. Unfortunately nowadays the only access is either driving down the beach from "Shitties" or walking down the beach from Dumps
6)Dumps / Magherabeg Cut & Drainpipe
6)Dumps / Magherabeg Cut & Drainpipe
Wind
South, North ,North West and South east
Swell
West & North Swells work
Tide
All tides. Easier at low, Packs a punch at High Tide
What it like
Works in lots of conditions. Drain pipe is the bank to the right, It can give a great peak to sail. High tide there gives a powerful shore break if your brave, low tide can be easier.
South winds give good DTL, but can be very gusty.
Small swells in north wind are a lot of fun. North west will be a lot stronger here than at Fermoyle giving cross on starboard tack sailing.
Photo of my Dad taken by the late and Great Tim Smith.
7)Shitties Reef
7)Shitties Reef
Wind
North & North west wind
Swell
North west best, but north to west will get into it
Tide
Mid to high tide. Works at low tide if you go downwind and sail beside the dry reef
What is it like ? Easy sail out. Good for jumping when NW as it has a flat water run up to the wave. Very easy place to sail big waves without too much skill needed.
8)Mossies
8)Mossies
Wind
Best at North with a little bit of east in it (very rare), But north and north-west still very good.
Swell
Northwest. Needs a decent swell to break. Can hold a big swell.
Tide
2 hours on each side of the high tide. if you are brave and know where the rocks are it is good on lower tides.
What's it like
Easy to sail, Hard to sail really well. The sail out from Spillane's is easy, and you can sit on the shoulder and watch. Gives a heavy peak going in to a endless shoulder. Mostly sailed with a bit onshore in the wind but the way the wave wraps it not a problem.
Florian Walsh Photography
9)Garywilliam
9)Garywilliam
Wind - Northeast winds
Swell- Picks up most
What's it like? Rare and Expensive, Very sharp rocks!
10)Hells Gate
10)Hells Gate
Winds- South west, West north, West and East winds
Swell- North to west. Catches alot in North swell
Tide- Most work. Small swells low is best . Big swell low tide can be plain scary. Dry on big spring tides
What's it like?
Home to red bull storm chase.Reef break, sail from Scraggane or the swim out from the small beach on the way to the harbor. Not sailed that much put works in lots of condition. Good DTL in a south west wind when brandon bay out of control. Wave gets bigger the closer you get to the Island . Can often be a lot of fun in a west wind and North west giving a good mix of jumping and riding.
Bouj during the RedBull storm chase
11)Scraggane
11)Scraggane
Winds- Works in all Winds. Windier than Killcummin in a west.
Tides- all work
Whats it like? Good flat water option. Works most of the time
Gives super super fast speed strip in strong south or SE winds. North west or west give good free ride/style sailing when there's no swell around. Fun if the wind is off the scale and huge north swell which can give a shoulder high two turn wave.
Alesky Gayda, photo by Tim Smith
12)Sandy Bay
12)Sandy Bay
Winds- Best in North or south,
Flat water fun sail here if to bumpy in onshore north winds at Scraggane
13)Tralee Bay
13)Tralee Bay
Winds. West strong winds
Swell- North or Massive West
Tide. Can sail through the tide. Just watch out for the rocks underneath. Easy place to ding a fin as the tide drops.
Winter beach can give great sailing when Brandon bay is massive.
Inch
Inch
Nice beach break that picks up Swells with South in them. Brandon Bay is often flat when theres South.Well worth a trip if you find south east winds and no swell in Brandon you may find perfect DTL.
In Spring Months Inch can get very good thermal winds. Look for light north wind days and lot of sun from 3pm onwards and you will think you are in Vasaliki.
Inch reef is one of the longest rights in the europe. Nice to surf. Recently I managed to sail the reef for the very first time. Was fun but very tricky.
Where on given Wind direction ?
Where on given Wind direction ?
North winds- Generally come through true to forecast.
Dumps, low tide or swell not the right size to make the reefs work.
Mossie (Needs a good swell from the north west or west).
North East Wind
Rare and mostly very cold. If you can cope with the temperature there is excellent sailing on offer. North Easterly's make the reef breaks cross off Starboard tack (1Hells gate (2 Garry William (3 Mossies
East winds.
Very Rare and not much swell. Few options on the Marahees if it does come together.
South East Winds
Good for speed sailing in Scraggane very very fast. SE winds most of the time come with SW or south swells which do not really get in to Brandon bay. Look at a map and you can find wave sailing with a 2 hour drive. If your very lucky and you get a west swell then Dumps can be epic cross off port- tack.
South Winds
Get blocked by the mountains. You really need 25 knots plus on windguru for any chance of good action. The wind tends to lift the further you get from the hills so the back beach is often better than dumps
Stony Gap / Dumps
Fermoyle. “Speed sailing if no swell”
South West
Lots of options. wind is funnelled by the hills so 8 K forecast can give great sailing cross off down the line port tack.
Kilcummon, picks up wind first, swell a little smaller
Gowlane, Best option on a normal SW windy day
Stradbally. If very windy there will be less here and more side shore.
Hells gate. Brandon bay out of control can give good reef sailing
Smerwick. Will be 4.2 weather when 3.0m needed in Brandon + a lot less swell
West winds
West winds we need to see atleast 20+ knots on the forecast, Light west winds are a bit rubbish! More wind on the Maharees but on shore at surf beaches. I go to Scraggane with luck you can sail cross on Hells gate which can give a good riding and jumping cross on
Options -
Scraggane “flat water”
Hells gate
Fermoyle
Tralee bay. (Huge north swell only)
North West
The wind comes through clean and pretty much as the forecast say
Mossies/ Shittys. (If enough Swell)
Dumps/Drainpipe
Bare In mind, there are more spots, You will just have to keep your eyes open ;-)
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