Brandon Bay Wave Clinic with Finn Mellon
Brandon Bay
We are back again this year after the success of last years clinics.
This year i have decided to add a week for those wanting to take the jump into wave sailing. In Brandon Bay We are lucky that we can find the conditions for everyone, this includes perfect conditions for those wanting to take their first steps into the waves, I will take you to the places i learnt to wave sail !
Located in the beautiful South West of Ireland, The place I am lucky enough to of grown up and call home. Super Consistent Wind and Waves In Autumn, Brandon bay has been home to 3 PWA World tour events and countless IWA & BWA events and the Red Bull Storm Chase, often scoring amazing conditions. Brandon Bay is a mecca for beautiful down-the-line wave riding, with prevailing winds funnelling down Mt Brandon to give a perfect cross-off south-westerly wind for wave sailing. The beauty of windsurfing in Brandon bay is you have the opportunity to pick a wind angle that suits the day, having a spot for North, East, South and West winds.
The Clinics
Intro to Wave - 2nd - 7th September
Coaching Runs from Monday to Saturday evening.
This coaching group is created for those improver and intermediate wave sailors who are wanting to tackle waves for the first time or to improve their confidence and technique in the waves.
We will be covering everything you need to carefully and confidently wave sail. We will cover the wave sailing basics, safely getting on and off the water in waves, getting out back through white water, kit recovery in the waves and of course we will work on improving your basic sailing Skills.
We will be using detailed land demos, video analysis and video comparison techniques. I will also help you to fine-tune your wave gear to the conditions we find.
Can guarantee after a weeks coaching you will notice improvements in your wave sailing and getting more out of your windsurfing.
Requirements - It will be helpful to have a confident water-start. Wave oriented gear such as freestyle wave board, Wave Sup or Wave board.
Improver Wave 21st to 25th October
Coaching Runs from Monday to Friday evening.
We will be covering everything from wave sailing basics, reading waves, Navigating line up's, all the way up to covering Wave Sailing Excellence like perfecting the bottom turn and top turn and mastering the Aerial !
We will be using detailed land demos, video analysis and video comparison techniques. I will also help you to fine-tune your wave gear to the conditions we find.
Can guarantee after a weeks coaching you will notice improvements in your wave sailing and getting more out of your windsurfing.
Registration
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Conditions to expect. Screengrab from a previous coaching session. |
Conditions to expect
Brandon Bay can deliver everything from Cross off wave sailing perfection, Pozo jumping to Dahab flat waters. We will likely get Cross-off, Cross shore and cross-on sailing. You will use your biggest wave sail and also your smallest sails during the week.
Waves generally vary from knee-high to logo high and above!
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| Beautiful conditions in the October sunshine! |
Kit to Bring
I would check the forecast before setting off, message me for advice. But generally, it is a safe bet to bring your float & ride gear, big board big sail and also bring your smallest high wind gear. oh and don't forget your foil.. and your surfboard .. it's going to be a full van !!
I have have a selection of shiny new Goya and Quatro boards and sails that you can demo.
Jamie Knox's shop also has Goya gear for hire and a shop full of shiny toys to buy!
Wetsuits - This time of year i wear a 4mm, I think its perfect, No need for hoods or boots.
Off the water
On days of little wind we will still be on the water surfing, supping, foiling, Brandon Bay has beautiful conditions for surfing and foiling.
Brandon Bay also has an array of beautiful walks and hikes which I can take you on, Fishing, Golfing at Castlegregory's beachfront 9-hole course (overlooking one of my favourite windsurf spots ;-). Great cycling opportunities and sightseeing around the Dingle Peninsula.
Food & Drinks
You will have a fantastic week full of great entertainment and food. You will certainly get your fill of amazing Spillanes Guinness during the week (if this isn't your first trip to Brandon Bay, Im sure I have poured you a few pints before !!).
We will also venture to Dingle for an evening of food and live music. Plenty of chances to try out the famous Dingle Gin.
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| Spillanes famous Guinness |
Accommodation & Travel
The Lodge Besides Jamie Knox's shop will be our base camp for this clinic. We will be based on the Maharees, within walking distance of the beach and Spillanes. This option allows all participants to to stay together in self catering accommodation with the option to book a Private Room for 300 euro/week or a Shared room for 200 euro Per Person for a week.
There is also plenty other option in the bay if preferred, I can help you to organise accommodation and travel help if needed. Please email me with any queries.
VAN RENTAL:
The camp will require moving from Spot to spot depending on the forecast, So it will be important to have (or share) your own transport.
When coming by plane the best option will be to look for a rental van (it's cheaper than car rental) at the airport.
Please find some reference pricing below for 30+ drivers:
HERTZ VAN RENTAL: (vans are cheaper than normal cars & fit 3 people)
1 week rental : Small van €250 -€300 Big Van €300 - €350
HOW TO GET HERE
Flying
- DUBLIN Airport - 3h 50min drive to Brandon bay
Dublin is the easiest airport to reach with plenty of direct flights. The drive to Kerry from Dublin is pretty straight forward down the motorway.
- CORK - 2hr drive to Brandon Bay
- SHANNON - 2hr drive to Brandon Bay
- KERRY AIRPORT - 35 min from Brandon Bay
Fantastic airport if you can fly to here, Very close to Brandon Bay. Good connections from the UK & Europe with Ryanair.
FERRY
Best route is to take the ferry to Cork.
Either from Roscoff Bretagne or from the UK & then drive 2 hours to Brandon Bay .
Other option is to go just Dublin Port to Rosslare harbour from Cherbourg (Normandie France) or several different harbours from UK followed by a 4 hour drive West.Belfast Port is also a possibility for those coming that way.
Costs
The cost of a week's clinic is 500€ per person. The clinic will be limited to seven people to give everyone plenty of individual coaching attention and camera time!
Registration
Email me for booking enquiries and any questions you may have.
email - Finn424@googlemail.com
About Finn
I am lucky enough to call Brandon Bay my home and it is where I learnt to windsurf and surf and then it also allowed me to really improve my windsurfing ability and has shaped the person I am today. I spent my teenage years travelling the world chasing the windsurf summer training and competing with the world's best. As I grew older I realised the Canarian PWA tour wasn't really for me, the wave riding was where my heart was at.
I spent 4 years studying at ATU Sligo where I graduated with a BSE degree in Health Science & Physical. Those years in college were well spent, I was lucky to have a little different college experience than most, the below photos are about 30 mins from the college campus, so my time there really allowed me to be in some amazing waves.
Growing up my dad and I were always coaching and filming each other which allowed me to reach the level I have as well as gaining great experience in coaching windsurfing and especially perfecting wave sailing techniques. I have a great interest in coaching I have been surf coaching for two years now working with a Grom Squad in Bundoran. Then I am lucky enough to spend my summers working in the sunny paradise of Club Vass teaching all levels of windsurfing, I have done 2 full seasons and soon to do my third. I feel I have found a real passion in coaching watersports, using my knowledge to help others.
Why did I want to start a windsurfing wave clinic in Kerry?
Growing up I have always been around the yearly Brandon bay clinics that come to visit my home, sailing the same spots and helping them with local info whenever I can. That had me thinking 'why shouldn't I start my own clinic?" who better to run a Brandon bay clinic than me who has been windsurfing here all my life. I am excited to share my knowledge and love for my home of Brandon Bay.
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