Watersports

The County Down coast is such a huge resource, that many other water-sports co-exist with sailing. Jet Skiing, water-skiing, windsurfing and diving enthusiasts find their own very special favourite places. And they're always ready to welcome visitors.

Windsurfing

Windsurfers are a nomadic lot. You don't need to belong to a club - just launch where conditions are best suited to your skills, whether a beginner or expert. And around the coast of Down there are many good spots - from the surf on Ballyholme Bay in northerly to the calm shallow waters at Barrs Bay in Strangford Lough. Here are some good places: -

  • Ballyholme Bay, Bangor - Only for the better sailors in an onshore wind. The groynes can be a hazard; convenient car park.
  • Barrs Bay - Portaferry Road, Newtownards. Good flat, shallow water. Handy car park. Best in any wind direction from the S through to NW. Not good in an easterly; Club facilities for visitors if accompanied by a member.
  • Kircubbin - Generally good, best off the Sailing Club; access there only if accompanied by a member.
  • Cloughey - Big beach, good for beginners and all round sailors; for experts best in strong South Easterly; convenient car park.
  • Kearney - Small shingle beach steeply shelving bay; best in a strong southerly but for experts only.
  • Ballywalter/Millisle - Good open beaches
  • Tyrella - Good for wave sailing especially in winds form the South through SE to East.
  • Newcastle - Good in winds from North East through east to South.

Diving

The waters around County Down offer a great diversity of sites, from the shallow sheltered Strangford Lough with its wealth of wrecks and marine life species in an unspoilt uncrowded environment, to the more challenging locations of the Irish Sea.

Meteor Water Ski Club

The Meteor Water Ski Club at Lough Henney offers tuition for visitors on Monday evenings between 6.30pm and dusk from May until mid-September. The club is situated on the Breshagh Road, off the Belfast - Ballynahinch Road. For information contact Paul Gray on (028) 9266 8662 or email paul@licencefreeadios.co.uk


 


Taken from The Kingdoms of Down

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