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TIMO MULLEN’S IRISH EXPERIENCE:

CRACKING THE IRISH CODE

For 35 years, Timo Mullen has been exploring, sailing and chasing the best waves along Ireland’s wild northwest coastline. He knows the spots, he knows the forecasts and, more importantly, he knows where to go when Ireland starts throwing its finest wave-sailing conditions at you.

Now Timo is opening up that hard-earned knowledge with his new Pro Experience Camps, giving competent wave sailors the chance to experience Ireland like a pro from hunting down the best conditions and improving their sailing, pro level photos from the trip, beach saunas and plenty of time on the water.

With the likes of Thomas Traversa, Marc Paré and other top pros regularly calling Timo for advice when they hit Ireland, who better to have in your corner when the forecast starts firing?

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IN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT WAVE

WINDSURF: Tell us about the Timo Mullen Experience Camps…

TIMO MULLEN: I’ve been asked to do one of these experience camps for maybe 10 years now, but with work and my own windsurfing and competing, I’ve never really had the time to do them.

I’ve also been waiting for the right time when I could offer the maximum experience possible and I think now is that time.

It’s a lot easier to organise things nowadays, particularly when it comes to travelling to the west coast of Ireland. There are so many more flights, and the logistics are much easier.

I just thought, ‘Do you know what? There’s no better time to do it than in an El Niño year, when there should be storms aplenty!’

With a lot of hard work, we’ve managed to get the website up and running and all the logistics sorted. Hopefully, it’s going to be a really unique experience, offering something a bit more premium than others are offering, but also much more personal.

WINDSURF: What sort of rider will enjoy these trips?

TIMO MULLEN: Well, if you look at my website and the photos from any of the trips we do, it’s always mast-high, big waves and pumping conditions. But obviously, that’s what we’re travelling for, we’re chasing the forecast.

The reality is that Magheroarty is head-high a lot of the time. It’s a super-friendly place to wave sail and, actually, even when it’s mast-high, the reef is relatively safe and the waves are pretty easy to sail.

So, I think anyone who can wave sail competently at their home break will enjoy the conditions at Magheroarty.

Obviously, if there’s a mast-high-plus day, you need to have your wits about you, but I think most people will gauge their own level if it comes down to those sorts of conditions. There’s certainly no pressure on anyone to go out if they don’t want to.

There are plenty of other spots we can visit, too, which offer more mellow conditions. But I would say there’s never been anyone who’s gone to Magheroarty and not gone windsurfing, even on the bigger days, and they certainly haven’t all been pro-level sailors.

So, if you’re a good wave sailor and want to push your level, definitely come to this camp. And if you’re a very good wave sailor who really wants to push your level, then it’s ideal.

WINDSURF: What sort of conditions should they expect at this time of year?

TIMO MULLEN: Well, it’s an El Niño year and a super El Niño, so I think we’re going to get some pretty good low-pressure systems flooding in from the Atlantic.

We’ve looked at the statistical wind data for Magheroarty and basically chosen our course dates to coincide with the windiest periods of the year. Statistically, over the last five years, these have been the windiest times.

So, yeah, you’re definitely going to get wind!

Magheroarty pretty much always has waves, too, so you can expect anything from head-high to logo-high, and if we’re really lucky, we might get a mast-high day as well.

It’s generally port tack, with the wind from the left. But if the wind changes direction or the conditions aren’t right for Magheroarty, there are numerous other spots within two or three hours’ drive and some even closer where we can score equally epic conditions.

That’s the whole idea of these guided trips. Normally, you’d be scratching your head wondering where to go and which spot is going to work. With one of our experience camps, we’ll take you exactly where the best conditions are.

I can pretty much take you out in whatever conditions you want and guide you. If you’re struggling to land a manoeuvre, one tip from a pro might be worth three days of a coaching clinic, in my opinion!

Pros can spot errors pretty quickly and give you a shortcut to fixing them pretty quickly as well.

WINDSURF: Will you be coaching or just there as a guide?

TIMO MULLEN: I think it would be underselling it to say we’re just there as guides. What you’re actually buying into is 35 years of my expertise and experience sailing around the northwest coastline of Ireland, specifically Magheroarty.

So, if you’ve always wanted to go to Magheroarty and it’s on your bucket list, and you want to push your sailing, I’d say there’s a huge advantage to sailing with a pro-level sailor who is focused on you.

We’ll be trying to get you to take better lines on the waves and, for sure, if you’re struggling with your bottom turn, cutback or aerial, or you want to perfect your back loops, we can help. Maybe you’re always landing out the back of the wave when you try an aerial…sometimes all it takes is a little tip from a pro sailor.

Rather than standing on the beach going through all the emotions of trying to work something out on land and then on the water, I don’t really believe in that approach. It definitely works for some people, but most of the big moves I’ve learnt…from goiters and 360s to back loops and forwards off the lip, have probably come from a five-minute conversation with another pro sailor.

They’ve given me what I’d call the ‘cheat code’, and I’ve then landed the move within an hour.

So I’d say this isn’t really about traditional coaching. It’s about the cheat codes that all pro sailors know.

They probably don’t want to give them away, because I guess it shows that what we’re doing is actually pretty easy when you know how to do it!

So, yeah, this is basically the Enigma code to getting the cheat code!

WINDSURF: How will it work logistically?

TIMO MULLEN: Regarding logistics, we basically leave the job of getting to Magheroarty up to the clients. We think that’s the better option, because people will be coming from all sorts of different places and countries.

But we can certainly give guidance on the best airports to fly into and which airlines to use. If you’re coming with friends, for example, we’d recommend travelling together in one van and taking the ferry, as that allows you to bring more gear.

At the same time, I fly to Ireland a lot myself and, for example, I use EasyJet. They’re fantastic and have a fixed rate for windsurfers, so you can book two board bags if you want and take a maximum amount of gear on your flight.

Renting a car is also really easy from Belfast Airport. We mostly use Hertz because they do a fantastic deal. You get a 10% discount and can return the car to another airport in Ireland, as long as it’s Dublin or Belfast, without any extra charge.

So, we’ve got lots of tips we can give people to make the logistics as easy as possible.

When you sign up for the course, you’ll also be added to a WhatsApp group, where you’ll get all the inside information on the best way to get yourself and your kit to Ireland.

WINDSURF: What is the best way to get to Ireland?

BY AIR

TIMO MULLEN: If you want to get there quickly and with the least hassle, definitely fly.

If you’re flying from London Gatwick, I’d use EasyJet to Belfast International or Belfast City. There are more flights to Belfast International and I use that route because there are so many options and they’re generally the cheapest.

EasyJet also flies to Belfast from a lot of regional airports. From the West Country, for example, you can fly from Bristol, and they also fly from the south coast from Southampton.

Aer Lingus is another good option. They’re a regional airline, they’re usually reasonably priced and, importantly, they also have a fixed rate for windsurf boards.

The big thing with air travel is to always pay for your baggage when you book the flight. And don’t bother choosing your seat, I’d let the airline allocate one for you rather than paying extra.

Another hack is to use Hertz for your hire car. But before you book, sign up for Hertz Gold Plus. It’s free and gives you an automatic 10% discount on your booking, an automatic upgrade on your hire car and allows you to skip the queue when you arrive at the airport.

You also get the cross-border charge waived. Obviously, when you drive from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland, you’re crossing into another country, and there’s normally a charge for that. But if you’re a Hertz Gold member, that gets waived.

So, yeah, my final advice would be: don’t forget your roof-rack straps and definitely don’t forget your driving licence!

FERRY

TIMO MULLEN: Regarding ferry travel, if you want to take the maximum amount of gear and don’t mind driving, going by car or van on the ferry probably works out around the same price as flying, but obviously you have much more flexibility.

You can take as much gear as you want, boards, sails, wetsuits, pretty much everything and the cost can be significantly reduced if you travel with a friend or a few friends.

For example, I’d estimate that a return ferry trip to Ireland, including a cabin, would be around £550. Split between three people, that’s less than £200 each, so travelling in a van is a really good option.

There are more sailings from Holyhead to Dublin, but the ferry route I use most is from Liverpool, or Birkenhead, to Belfast with Stena Line. It’s an overnight ferry, so you get a full night’s sleep, and that’s the one I tend to choose.

Another advantage of that route is that you’re travelling from the UK to Northern Ireland, so you don’t normally need to show your passport. I’d still bring it as a form of ID, but you’re essentially travelling from the UK to the UK.

And if you do happen to have a dog you want to bring with you, although I’m guessing there won’t be many of those on the course! The Liverpool to Belfast ferry also allows pets, provided you have the relevant UK-to-Northern Ireland pet documentation.

WINDSURF: What do you hope the clients come away with from these experience trips?

TIMO MULLEN: Well, obviously, I want them to have an amazing time. That’s number one. We want them to enjoy themselves, that’s the whole reason we go windsurfing at the end of the day.

But I also want them to go away feeling that they’ve improved their windsurfing, pushed themselves a little harder and ultimately, experienced what it’s like to live the life of a professional windsurfing travel guru like myself!

I want them to live my life through their eyes and see what I go through to do what I do from getting up early in the morning and doing the workouts that prepare you for the day, to eating well, staying healthy and being totally amped to get on the water.

It’s also about choosing the right times to sail and making the most of the conditions when they come.

Ultimately, I want people to go away from the trip thinking, ‘Oh my God, I’m exhausted, but I literally had the time of my life and I’ve set a whole new level for where my windsurfing should be.’

WINDSURF: So, what’s included in the trip?

TIMO MULLEN: For £995, you get five days of full pro-experience guidance.

But the big thing that makes our trips different from other trips is that we offer a full professional media package. When we do trips like the famous Motley Crew missions that have featured in the magazines, we’re travelling with John Carter, the PWA photographer, and we’re trying to give people the same experience that I get on those trips.

Everything you do on the water is documented by John. He can take maybe 2,000 photos on a single trip, so you’re not going to miss much!

We’ll have a media team following us throughout the trip, shooting the sailors when they’re on the water. At the end, you’ll be left with a full folder of high-quality professional photos.

I don’t think many people actually have a really good photo of themselves windsurfing, even if they’re very good windsurfers.

So hopefully we can get that jackpot shot of you bottom-turning in front of a mast-high wave, with that beautiful Irish island backdrop…the perfect Magheroarty shot!

WINDSURF: Where will clients be staying etc?

TIMO MULLEN: So, basically, for the £995 package, you get the full guidance, the full media team and we also include a sauna after every day of windsurfing.

That’s specific to Magheroarty, although some of the other beaches we visit also have beach saunas. And it’s all included in the price. So, imagine you’ve just been windsurfing for six hours in rough and ready Irish conditions…there’s a sauna waiting for you at the end of the day!

Lunch is also provided. That’ll be soup and bread and everyone knows that bread in Ireland is the best bread in the world!

But it’s not just any soup and bread. It’s homemade Irish vegetable soup with homemade bread, fresh from the local bakery. It’s all included in the price.

The things that aren’t included are your ferry or flights and your accommodation. We ask people to book those themselves, but we’ll recommend several local places to stay.

For example, I stay at the Loch Altan Hotel, which is less than 10 minutes from Magheroarty. They serve an amazing breakfast, do great grub in the evening and serve an excellent pint of Guinness.

Best of all, they have a specific rate for windsurfers, so you can book the Loch Altan Hotel yourself and take advantage of their special windsurfing rate. They’re a really windsurf-friendly hotel, so we like to support them as much as we can.

WINDSURF: What gear should a client bring?

TIMO MULLEN: OK, the big question is always: what gear should you bring to Ireland?

Believe it or not, Ireland is often all or nothing, so it’s good to have a float-and-ride wave board. For example, I’m 95kg and I have a 106-litre quad wave board that I can float on in virtually any wind. If it’s as light as 5–6 knots, I can still go wave sailing at Magheroarty.

Then I’d also have something around 88–93 litres for my weight for when it gets properly windy, right down to 3.7m conditions.

Even in 3.7m weather, though, I’d still use a relatively floaty board. I’d probably still use my 94-litre board because you just don’t know what’s going to happen with the wind and the squalls. I always think you’re better off being mobile than sinking!

In terms of sails, I’d bring 3.7m, 4.2m, 4.7m and 5.3m, you really only need four sails for Magheroarty. If it gets any windier than 3.7m, I’d say just hang on, because there’s not much difference between 3.7m and 3.3m!

As for wetsuits, definitely bring a 5/3. At this time of year, you shouldn’t really need booties, but we recommend bringing a pair in case we go to any of the reef breaks further south of Magheroarty, where the rocks can be quite sharp. A pair of 3mm boots would be ideal.

You shouldn’t really need a hood at this time of year, but take whatever keeps you warm. I’d probably use a 4/3 myself, but if you’re going to be on the water all day, I’d definitely recommend a 5/3 to keep yourself warm.

And I think that’s another big thing about these experience camps, we’ll be on the water all day. We won’t be disappearing for two hours for lunch. We’ll have lunch on the beach, give it enough time to settle in our stomachs and then get straight back out there.

The whole idea of the camp is to give you guys and girls the maximum amount of time possible on the water.

WINDSURF: What Level do you need to be at?

TIMO MULLEN: I think that’s an important point to mention as well…the course is open to everyone.

You just need to gauge your own level. The last thing you want is to come on the course and find you can’t go out because the conditions are too extreme for you.

But, as I said, you just need to be a competent wave sailor. Male or female.

I really want to emphasise that…we want as many girls on the courses as possible as well.

WINDSURF: Why Ireland and why now?

TIMO MULLEN: One thing I would say about why I started these pro experience camps is that Ireland is obviously the buzz place to be for wave sailing in Europe.

I’d say we have the best conditions in Europe for down-the-line wave riding. As a result, you’ve probably seen a lot of the top professional windsurfers travelling over to Ireland on road trips, guys like Marc Paré, Leon Jamaer and Thomas Traversa. Philip Köster is always keen to come over, and the French guys are over here regularly too.

Every time they come to Ireland, I get contacted by these guys wanting to know where the best conditions are. Obviously, they’re my friends and I want them to score the best conditions, so I’m always happy to point them in the right direction.

They always thank me afterwards because they’ve scored some pretty epic conditions based on where I’ve told them to go.

And that got me thinking: this could be so beneficial for someone who hasn’t visited Ireland before, or who is unsure where to go. The forecasts here can be really difficult to read, knowing which beach will work, what the waves are going to be like and where the best conditions will be on any given day.

So, I thought, why not offer the same knowledge and experience that I give to the pro wave sailors who come over here to anyone who wants to join the camp?

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