This month’s clip comes from several trips to Northwest Ireland. Ireland is one of the greatest windsurfing locations on earth with incredible waves, strong winds, stunning scenery and friendly locals. The video features two of Ireland’s finest wave sailors, Finn and Timo Mullen, who have spent years searching down wandering country lanes to find these spots – thanks guys! There is also footage of Phil Horrocks who is one of the UK’s finest sailors in solid down the line port tack waves and a few rides from the legendary King brothers. To add some background here are a few words from the brothers Mullen.
Timo: ‘Growing up in North Ireland was pretty hardcore, we grew up in what the world saw as a war zone and like all press they focussed on the negatives. For me as a kid at the time it all seemed normal because that was all we ever knew! Now there is peace after nearly 25 years of war. The whole country is and has always been an amazing place to live, I generally don’t like cities too much but Belfast has got to be one of the coolest most cosmopolitan cities in the world, my wife loves it there too, she rates it higher than New York or London for shopping!’
Finn: ‘I love the freedom of the outdoors in Ireland, empty beaches, rugged mountains and lots of green, what’s not to love. We are lucky windsurfing gives you a very close connection with your environment and you form a bond with a place for its natural beauty. That’s how I grew up, just always looking at the sea and the mountains and all the positives Ireland’s landscape can give you. If you like the outdoors, you’ll love Ireland. I can’t comment too much about other stuff in Ireland as I’m not interested in politics and all that rubbish. To me we are all humans and it’s better to concentrate on what unites not divides – like the beauty of the lucky island we live in!’
What can you say about Ireland with regards to windsurfing?
Timo: ‘Conditions can be varied so you need sails and boards to cover a broad range of conditions. A lot of access to the breaks is over farm land so be respectful to the farmers and the local communities who are sensitive to exposure of their area’s surfing secrets. Non windsurfing: take the time to talk, Irish people love to banter, tell tales and take the piss so there’s entertainment a plenty for the price of a smile and a hello.’
Finn: ‘Ireland is the Atlantic storm track’s first port of call when systems leave America’s east coast, so that is how we are blessed with some of the best wind and swell in north west Europe. There is an abundance of reefs, points, beach breaks and lakes so you can easily find something to suit your taste. The ever changing weather and large tides mean you can’t guarantee conditions as consistent as Hawaii or the Canaries but by the same token is why the waves are so uncrowded, well that and the cold… but as my always brother says: ‘Cold only scares people, not waves!’’
What’s the best session you ever had in Ireland?
Timo: ‘There’s too many to mention really, probably a session I had on my own at Easkey last year was the one that sticks most in my memory.’
Finn: ‘Mmm toughie! The day umi visited was pretty good: 4.5, sunny and an out of season swell, yeah I’d take plenty more days like that if you could order them!’
Any advice for visitors?
Timo: ‘Bring heaps of cash! Ireland is one heck of an expensive place to come visit! Bring a big board and big sail, it’s all about light wind wave riding in the northwest of Ireland. Most importantly: come to Ireland with an open mind and you will gain the most from the country. Take the rough with the smooth, it is not always perfect, but if you are here for two weeks for sure you will score at least one life changing session!’
© All photos by Tam Mullen & John Carter. umi 2010
