Surf and surf prediction for Easkey and Sligo

 

Easkey is north facing and works well off a small (2-3m)  or large north to west swell. If the swell is  big (3.5m +) it works off a southwest swell also.

The prevailing wind is south-westerly which is offshore. 

 

There are 2 main reef breaks -the Easkey Left which is to the left of the castle looking out to sea and can be seen clearly from the front rooms of the house and Easkey Right which is to the right of the castle. Both are consistent top class breaks in their own right with the Stormrider guide calling the right a world class break. Under reasonable conditions the Left peaks up to form a nice sizable steep but manageable drop followed by a long fast and steeper wall section which the forms a shoulder which is initially static and then runs again to form a small steep inside wall section which breaks on the rocks at high tide. Get off the wave earlier at high tide!!

The right is forms similar long wall but is generally a little steeper and more hollow and involves  closer proximity to rocks. Both the right and left start to work properly around 4 to 5 feet and get better with more size. The left never really maxes out if the wind is ok. The right seems to max out around 8-10 foot or so – vertical wave height from crest to trough.

There is a nice photo of the right in The Stormrider Guide Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   A slightly unusual view of the right taken at low tide – summer time is not always mellow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Looking at the left – Not usually this intimidating to enter – have a good look at where the rocks are and where the waves are breaking

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Off the lip on the Right

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Left on a small swell

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a look at the beachwizard review which has good photos also

http://www.beachwizard.com/beach.asp?country=Ireland&beachid=2060

 

There are online photos of the left from the 2003 World Kayak Surf Championships at ..

http://www.kayaksurfireland.com/worlds/frameset.html you need to click on the daily updates the click back through the link (prev day)  near the bottom of the page to see the photos.

 

Small clean day photos of the left http://www.kayaksurfireland.com/worlds/daily/pics/20030914p1.jpg

http://homepage.eircom.net/~loanhomers/easkey/photos/sea%20shore%202.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Video of the left can be seen at…….

 

 

Some video of Easkey ( big & clean) and another Sligo spot is viewable or downloadable from ....

  -the darker video is Easkey- it was the end of november and getting late. Please forgive the video quality but the surf and surfing is worth a look!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other breaks in the area

These vary from north to west facing.

 

http://www.beachwizard.com/country.asp?country=Ireland ….better listings

 

http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/Europe/Ireland/index.html  ...worse listings

 

 

Achill ( Keel beach ) is south facing.

 

 

 

Surf Prediction Guidelines &  Useful Links

 

 

The basic swell height and direction map I use most is ...

https://www.fnmoc.navy.mil/PUBLIC/WAM/all_natl.html

 

Obviously swell period is equally important –7 seconds or longer seems about the acceptable minimum for decent surf.

http://magicseaweed.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=17  really good

https://www.fnmoc.navy.mil/CGI/ww3_loop.cgi

 

To see current ( + previous 24 hours)  swell height take a look at the data from the Irish Marine data buoys particularly the M4 and M1

The map of the network is

http://www.marine.ie/scientific+services/data+services/data+buoy/index.htm

Observations  are available by clicking the symbol on the map or from

http://www.marine.ie/scientific+services/data+services/data+buoy/observations.htm

 

the best wind forecast is probably..

http://irishsurfer.com/aaweatherpages/wind/koln3day.html

 

 

the bbc 5 day forecast is pretty good - sligo is...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=4927&links

 

limerick bbc 5 day forecast is..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=4564&links

 

 

Ignore the speed of the RTE wind forecast (& Teletext )  as it overstates the strength of the wind! The forecasts are otherwise ok.

 

Some usefull webcams + surf reports are

Lahinch...

http://www.lahinchsurfshop.com/lahinch/default.asp

 

Strandhill

http://www.strandhillsurfcam.com/surfcam_enlarge.htm

 

Bundoran Surfworld surf report

http://www.surfworldireland.com/section-1.aspx?type_id=35

 

 

For more links try ...

 

The magicseaweed UK and Ireland page is really good and has been upgraded in 2005

http://magicseaweed.com/United_Kingdom_Surf_Forecast_Resources/26/

 

http://irishsurfer.com/

 

For the serious forecaster try getting your head around ..

http://www.stormsurf.com/page2/tutorials/menu.html

 

For more good places to stay near the surf in Ireland & the UK as well as some great kitesurfing links and news try

http://www.surfshacks.co.uk/welcome/