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PlacesThe Isle of Man |
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The Isle of Man may not be the 'extreme sports' capital of the world, but Anna was born and brought up there, so we tend to visit her folks at least once a year. Being stuck in the middle of the Irish Sea and with beaches on all coasts, it does however offer plenty of windsurfing, kite-surfing and even on occasion surfing opportunities. I'm told that it is 'always windy', but the first few times I went there it was only just windy enough for kiting. Mind you, the wind always seems to be howling for the ferry trips there and back. Things were however different on my October 2001, when the wind was howling for the full 5 days I was there, meaning I could windsurf every day. We went there again in October 2002 and once again the wind blew. i managed to windsurf 8 days in a row and on the final day the surf was going off all over the island too. |
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Derby Haven
Derby Haven is an enclosed harbour which is good for windsurfing and kitesurfing. SW winds blow offshore from the main launching area on the road to the Golf Links Hotel. SW winds therefore provide perfect offshore, flat water blasting conditions. Easterly, and NE winds provide for bump and jump conditions. There are a few area of rocks exposed at low tide, so make sure you know the whereabouts of these before venturing out. Other than the rocks, it is a fairly safe place for beginners too.
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Derby Haven |
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Castletown bay
Castletown bay provides some good bump and jump windsurfing conditions. However, its proximity to the airport of Ronaldsway means that kitesurfing here is out of the question. Don't even attempt it, the planes really are very low as they fly out across the bay. At low tide a sandy beach is revealed and launching from the small car parks by 'Hango Hill' at the end of the runway is easy. Even when the wind is howling onshore at this location, the waves are small at low tide. At high tide, the waves seem to increase in size and tend to dump onto the pebble bank. In such situations or when the wind is SW and directly onshore, it is probably better to launch from the little track that crosses the golf course from Derby Haven. The shorebreak is less viscous here and the wind will be cross-shore when SW.
There is also a little reef break off the rocks near the harbour wall. |
Me, Castletown Bay |
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Gansey
The beach of Gansey apparently used to be really good for windsurfing, surfing and kiting at most states of the tide. However, after destruction of the sea road several years in a row, huge boulder rip-rap sea defences were placed along the high tide line to protect the road. This means that it is now not really sensible to windsurf etc. there at high tide. A sandy beach is exposed at low tide though and bump and jump windurfing is good. SW winds are onshore. Kitesurfing is also possible at low tide, and surfing is also fairly popular here.
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Dave, Gansey |
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Port St. Mary
The rocks of Callow Point in Point St. Mary can provide some good surf when a decent swell is running. NNW winds are offshore.
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Port Erin
The well protected beach of Port Erin can provide some nice waves in big SW storms. SW winds are offshore, but the hills surrounding the beach tend to make the winds swirl in all directions. There is also a surf/windsurf shop on the beach.
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The 'North'
The Isle of Man although only about 30 miles long has a fairly strong North-South divide. For this reason I haven't fully explored the potential of the 'North', but the long sandy beach along the islands NW coast provides good windsurf and kitesrf conditions...Currents along this stretch of coast are fairly strong and could be dangerous though. The beach at Ramsey should also provide good conditions.
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