ON THE WAVE
It was a bit tricky to get the timing right to start with. The wind was really offshore and super light. It sort of made it really hard to get into the wave, when it’s like that I think it’s key not to go too far out and try and stay really up on the peak to make sure you’ve got the best chance on getting into the good ones. It always feels a bit risky to stay so close to the impact zone especially when the wind is light but it’s the best thing to do and worth the risk. I was on a 5.0 and a 94 stubby proto, with any bigger gear like that it’s quite hard to get back into the pocket when your turning especially when the winds so offshore as you are really underpowered and then all of a sudden really powered up with a lot of lift coming from the bigger board. That made timing the wave key. You could see straight away Timo has sailed it since he was a kid and he made all the right choices on the wave dropping and meeting sections with ease and busting a few monster airs! A few times I was sure I was too deep but the wave walls up and just holds longer than you think. After a few waves too early and a few too late I managed to find a few nice sections to hit and a few that walled up through the inside to offer a couple of bigger gouging turns. It’s really rewarding to struggle like that a bit and then feel like you are getting into it, that smooth offshore direction does set up for a few awesome full drawn out bottom turns which can feel better than a top turn! It almost felt like it would suit a more side shore wind direction that would allow you to come back around and attack that awesome pocket that Magheroarty offers and I will 100 percent be back for more!”
TIMO MULLEN
“Yeah this was a pretty standard Motley Crew trip but I would say even by our standards this was VERY last minute! Fortunately Stena Line were on hand to as always give excellent customer service and despite the fact we were leaving so last minute their team had us all booked on the late Holyhead/Dublin crossing and thankfully with a cabin to get a much needed sleep! We were pretty lucky with the conditions, I’d say it was one of the cleanest days I have ever had at Magheroarty, if anything it was almost too cross off but that would be being ridiculously fussy!! The main peak at Magheroarty is a pretty heavy bowl when it is this offshore, normally the main peak is where you start your first turn when it is side shore but when it is more offshore to really get the full potential of the wave you have to backdoor the first peak and smack it!!!
The aerials you can get off this first peak are pretty insane, much like I imagine Punta Preta to be like. I had a fair few good ones where you would just float forever before landing and attacking the rest of the bowly walls that make this place so good. This was Adam’s first time here and after half an hour he soon found the sweet spot and was sailing the place like he had been there for years! It was a shame it rained so much as at bit of sunshine would have made this day one of the best I’ve ever had up here but that same weather can add to the adventure and remind you that Magheroarty is so remote and the first port of call for any weather system from the Atlantic.”