Newcastle County Down (Northern Ireland)
Windsurfing at Newcastle Co. Down. By Barry Poland
I know off few wave locations that have both the RNLI and the Coastguard resident in one location and for some, it puts the mind at ease whilst sailing to know that they are there if the occasion arises. The combination of scenery, conditions and accessibility, and having the rescue services close by, makes Newcastle a prime windsurfing location.
If we are sailing at Newcastle we normally launch from the harbour where the yacht club is situated. The club is situated virtually ten yards from the water's edge (when the tides in).
Launching: Onshore winds = S or SE
If the tide is fully in & you're on a "sinker" you will have too swim your gear to the end of the wall (pier), because the wall provides shelter from the wind. Unless you are sailing a relatively floaty board 100 litres +. When the tide is out launching is much easier as you can walk your gear to the waters edge close to the end of the pier.
Launching: Offshore winds = NW or N
It does not matter if the tide is in or out for offshore. But you should feel competent in your abilities and be of a certain standard before sailing offshore winds at an open ocean location.
These are four main wind directions, which make for excellent sailing in Newcastle
Southerly, South-easterly, Northerly & North westerly….
Southerly-Cross onshore.
Sailing from the harbour a southerly wind will provide good swells. These obviously increase in size as you sail further out to sea. In my opinion a full on southerly wind is the best direction to sail at Newcastle. Swell size can range anything from 4 to 15 feet high, depending on the apparent wind strength & swell. You definitely need to be sailing in the foot straps before you venture out to open sea, as you will take quite a lot of air coming down of the swells.
In a southerly you also have the option to bear off down wind to sail the waves at the beach. Alternatively, you can launch at the beach, however with the new promenade now in place & the parking restrictions - launching spots are more limited. A good launch spot is down at the Slieve Donard car park or behind the leisure complex.
South-easterly- Onshore
A SE is very good at Newcastle, but you also have Tyrella as a backup option if it's too big a day & you don't wish to go deep into Open Ocean.
On a big day here the waves can range from 4-5ft to mast high.
During the summer Newcastle has the advantage over Tyrella in high pressure. The sea breeze can kick in after lunch time if conditions are right in onshore winds…. if it's hot enough. The thermals do not work the same at Tyrella.
SE winds & swells produces the biggest sea's at Newcastle in terms of waves and on very windy days conditions are usually very good. However, you need to be competent in your abilities to launch at the harbour in a high tide as you will have no "rest spot".
When the tide is fully in you will have to bob out to the end of the pier to launch (about 100 meters). When the tide is out it is much easier to launch and get back in.
As with the straight southerly - SE provides good jumping & backside riding.
North westerly - Offshore
Flat sea state obviously…the most important thing to remember is to sail as far upwind as you can on your first couple of runs. The wind is always stronger out at sea than it is at the shore.
Northerly - Cross Offshore
A Northerly is usually a very clean wind, the water is crystal clear and it provides a very nice, although rather big chop to lift off. Also it provides a nice rolling swell which is also great for airtime. The direction from the harbour is to sail towards Tyrella But again sailing upwind first is advisable to compensate for potential wind direction fluctuation.
In other words, If you sail square to the wind, which will take you out to the right towards Tyrella & the wind switches NW - you will have bother getting back depending on how far out you are. - Tack well upwind first! This will allow you distance to compensate.
Heading out from the harbour you will hit the chop & swell sideways which provides good jumping. Sailing back the run is a lot faster as you sail over and down off the back of the swell. Overall, the Northerly is a very consistent and clean wind to sail.
As you venture out, you will notice that the wind increases in strength the further out you go. I have experienced days where I have launched at the harbour & for the 1st mile is has been around 6.0m conditions. Only to find 5.0m further out towards the Mouth of Dundrum bay (which you should stay clear of incidentally!). I can't really explain it but there must be an accelerated effect around the coastline spanning from Murlough onwards. The wind is always consistently stronger further out.
Created: January 16, 2009
