Tweet

EDDIE MACLEAN: AN UNFORGETTABLE TIREE WAVE CLASSIC!

At just 16, local lad Eddie Maclean enjoyed what he describes as the best day of his windsurfing life at the 2026 Tiree Wave Classic, battling his way to second place in the British Championships. Eddie made an incredible run through the single elimination, taking on his heroes and even beating seasoned pro Ben Proffitt, in their first clash of the double elimination play off before pushing him all the way to the super final. We caught up with Eddie to relive an unforgettable day of competition, sailing against his idols and scoring big on home waters!

Photos: John Carter…Click any image to enlarge and scroll!

---

Windsurf Magazine: Yesterday was the British Championships in Tiree, and you basically had the day of your life, didn’t you?

Eddie Maclean: I know! I was really enjoying it actually, and I think that’s how I did so well. Crossapol is the place where I sail most of the time, so I was just going out and loving the conditions, which really helped. I managed to take Ben Proffitt all the way to the super final of the double elimination, but he clipped me in that one. I couldn’t have imagined a better day of windsurfing!

That must have been one of the best days of my life when it comes to windsurfing, yeah. Everything about it…going through the heats, the adrenaline, the excitement, the conditions and getting into my first final…it was amazing. I was honestly in shock. I was speechless when I found out I had reached the final. It felt pretty amazing.

Windsurf Magazine: And how did your dad react? (Willy Maclean event organiser)

Eddie Maclean: I don’t even know! He was probably going through every emotion in the book. He was proud, I hope, and probably in shock as well. But, yeah, I think he enjoyed watching me get all the way through.

Windsurf Magazine: So, in the morning of the British event, what were your expectations?

Eddie Maclean: In the morning, I was just looking forward to trying to do as well as I could. I hoped I’d get to the semis and do well in them.

But when I went up against Sam Field, I wasn’t even sure if I was going to get through that heat and the Challenger round to qualify for the main event. Then I made it through and I just kept passing heats all the way to the final!

Windsurf Magazine: Who else did you beat on the way?

Eddie Maclean: Oh God, you’re testing my memory here! I beat Sam Field to get through the Challenger heats, and then I think it was Max Metcalf.

I beat Max in the quarter-finals and then Ben Proffitt and I advanced through to the semis, where we went up against Dave Horrocks and Ben Page. I won that semi-final heat, which I was really happy with. So, I took out Ben Page and Dave Horrocks in that one, and then it was myself, Ben Proffitt, Rory Somerville and James Cox in the final, which was really cool.

Windsurf Magazine: Were you thinking, “I want to win this at all costs,” or were you just enjoying the day by that point?

Eddie Maclean: I was just really enjoying it, but I really wanted to do as well as I could, too. I was really pushing my sailing and going for it a lot more than I maybe would have in a normal heat.

It was really cool to see Rory get on the podium too, although it was slightly unfortunate for him in the double elimination when James Cox came back and beat him to take third place. But it’s so cool because I grew up windsurfing with Rory on the loch, and now we’re getting all the way to the final together. That felt special. I am still only sixteen so hopefully there will be plenty more days like this to come in the future!

Windsurf Magazine: So, you beat Ben Proffitt in the first double-elimination final.

Eddie Maclean: Yeah! I think it’s fair to say I took him by surprise in that one. I just had a really, really good heat. Then, when it went to the super final, I got an alright wave and then crashed my next one. I had a massive swim right in the middle of the heat which cost me three or four minutes.

The rig got away from me and went all the way to the beach, so I spent a lot of time swimming. Ben was in control after that and sailed a really clever heat. He’s been competing for years and years, so he’s a really solid competitor. But honestly, it’s been a complete dream competing with him. I watch him on the telly all the time and try to learn new moves from his YouTube videos. To go out and actually sail against him and beat him, was quite surreal.

Windsurf Magazine: This whole week must have been one of the most amazing weeks ever?

Eddie Maclean: I think we sailed at four different beaches for competition and scored so many epic conditions It’s been really cool in that sense, and obviously we’ve had Philip Köster and all the big names here as well. I was just ecstatic when I heard he was coming up. And Mark Pare too, that was really cool. I sailed in a heat with him, and that was just so sick!

Windsurf Magazine: For a young lad from Tiree, that must be pretty special?

Eddie Maclean: I know! I remember the first time I ever saw Mark Pare. He was here back in 2018, and I remember sitting up on the rocks at the Maze watching him do a double forward. I was just in awe. I was so enamoured by what he was doing, and he was my idol for quite a long time. To see him come back up and compete was just really amazing!

Windsurf Magazine: So, all in all, it’s been a magical week?

Eddie Maclean: Yeah, for sure! We honestly couldn’t have asked for much more in terms of conditions, so it’s been epic. That is pretty much as good as it gets here. And for conditions over such a short period, that was pretty insane!

Windsurf Magazine: And did you celebrate last night at all?

Eddie Maclean: I got home and was just so knackered! I went to bed pretty early. Obviously, I’ve been helping my dad with the event as well, so I was helping him, then got home, had dinner and pretty much just crashed!

Windsurf Magazine: Perfect. Thanks very much, Eddie!