Cornwall'98 Waterside Guide

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Windsurfing the Far West

Gwithian

Parking on top of the cliffs you can look west across the gentle curving St Ives Bay from the harbour town of the same name to the stark white lighthouse on Godrevy Point. This venue is synonymous with down the line wave sailing in the UK. In front of the car park is a slippery cliff descent known locally as the "goat track" to the beach and from low to mid tide can offer some relatively safe wavesailing, obviously dependent on the size of the swell. The main beach can be reached by the less severe, but lengthy path. For those sailing in front of the car park, when the tides touches the rocks it is time to head down towards Godrevy Lighthouse to the main beach or the Red River. Care needs to be taken with a daunting shore break that dumps progressively more viciously as high tide draws near. SW and SSW winds provide the ideal conditions for port tack jumping and great front and backside wave riding. NE winds can also provide some wave sailing or, if the swell is not up to much, simply great blasting across the whole of St Ives Bay. In this direction it is best to launch from Godrevy car park the other side (east) of the Red River.

As you head west around the bay the swell size reduces in stature towards Upton Towans, just a short drive west.

Upton Towans

If the wind is a little too onshore at Gwithian nip west along the coast road to the St Ives Bay Holiday Caravan Park at Upton. Please drive slowly through it and it will take you to the back of the dunes. In front of you is an expanse of sand in both directions with a moderately less severe wave than Gwithian but relatively safe spot for the accomplished wave sailor. The only hazards to watch out for are one of two obvious rocks dotted about the sandy beach and at high tide it is best avoided as the swell gets pretty out of control with a strong rip.

Hayle - The Bluff

Moving further west to the entrance of the Hayle Harbour Mouth a drive down to the hospitable Bluff Public House overlooking the beach provides an ideal car park and a refreshment stop for possibly one of the best wave riding spots in Europe. This spot certainly requires respect even from the experienced wave sailor when the waves build fast and powerfully over the sand bar (Best about two or three hours after low tide). It is worth having a chat with the life guards on the way down to the beach. On a ebbing tide there is a severe down wind rip which only slows as low tide approaches. Watch out as high tide arrives as the beach at the bottom of the access path disappears and can make recovering a little on the exciting side! It works best from SW to NW and is an excellent port tack jumping spot with reasonable spacing between the waves.

Carbis Bay

Sailors looking for a good intermediate mild wave sailing spot in a NW should try Hawkes Point just over the Hayle river from the Bluff. Watch out for a vicious shore break and a slightly unpredictable wind on the inside but it can be a great spot when conditions are extreme.

Porthmeor

A good spot to get some wave sailing in a WNW wind. It is worth checking out when the tide is dropping from half tide or when it is rising from low tide. Watch out for the wrecked ship in the middle of the beach and also be aware it is quite a small beach if you get blown down wind a bit. When it is working it has a good wave but if the swell is over four feet you can get affected by a rip.

Sennen Cove, Gwenvor

Open to the full force of the Atlantic there is usually always some form of swell present here even if every where else is flat. In a NE wind it is best sailed at low to mid tide and can provide some excellent port tack wave sailing. Parking can be pretty scarce in the tourist season and it is a bit of a hike down to the beach with your kit but it is worth a look as long as the swell is not too big.

Marazion

There are two places to park in front of St Michael's Mount. You can use either the more popular Station car park next to the cafe and the Station House Inn or you can nip along the bay towards Penzance and park across the level crossing at Long Rock. This bay can provide sailing for all abilities from flat water beginners on long boards through to good wave sailing when a southerly swell is running. It is a location which can work in just about any wind direction save NE and sometimes N. It is best in a W laying on cross shore conditions although SW or WSW can bring in swells of up to mast high. NW can provide some excellent slalom sailing with good clean wind and flat water. Be aware the imposing St Michael's Mount also throws up in an easterly and south easterly wind quite a wind shadow. Try to avoid the gear trashing shore dump at high tide, it is certainly powerful, but once the tide drops below the steep shingly bit of the beach the waves become a lot softer and a great introduction to starting in waves. Long Rock will be a better bet if it is a little too onshore at the station house car park. It provides a more sheltered launching spot if the wind is fickle and the swell is large or if it getting closer to high tide. Do watch out for the rocky peninsula leading out to the prominent black mast in front of Long Rock as these can be covered towards high tide as well so it is generally best to head towards the Mount on your first run out from the beach if you have not already seen where the rocks are at low tide.

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