ABOUT THE PLACE
Donegal and the surrounding beaches are quite simply stunning.
They've never heard of crowds or pollution of 'Pay and Display' machines. It takes you back to better times.
Better still the welcome is truly Irsh and especially warm.
In 22 years I've NEVER had a bad trip to Donegal.

The idyllic beach of Magheoarty. You'll stare open mouthed at its beauty.

ABOUT the COURSE
It's essentially a waves and general skills course. The conditions determine the daily program but we seek out waves if there's a swell running.
However, if you're not a surfhound, don't worry as each today, given the wind, we may do both a wave and a flat water session.
And a word about the waves - this coast has some of the best and gnarliest but we always launch into conditions that suit the standard.

It’s like a normal clinic in that we break down and simulate the moves and have video playback and analysis sessions; but this also has the feel of a surfy road trip.

Guiness inspired video playback session in the Loch Altan Bar

Each day we study the weather, drive to the most suitable beach (usually ONTO the beach) and then look at the skills you need to tackle those particular conditions. It’s REAL windsurfing.
Having said that we always cover the essentials such as tacks, carve gybes, better waterstarts early planing, getting out and surviving in surf, jumping and riding.

Waves one side, flat water the other, grass for rigging in the middle - that's Donegal windsurfing!

In the evenings we end up in the finest hostelries. With several excellent musicians in the area, a sing-song or two is inevitable.

Accommodation.
We stay at the Loch Altan Hotel in Gort a Choirce. We basically have the run of the place including our own video play back room. It's big, warm, friendly, clean and really quite posh. It also sells beer. They offer the Harty group an amazing deal.

The Loch Altan Hotel - clean, friendly, understatedly posh and a great deal for Harty guests

Other Activities: surfing, golf, swimming, schnorkelling

GETTING THERE
The course moves daily to where the conditions are best so everyone brings a car or van. From the UK you have a multitude of choices. Probably the quickest is Stena or Irish Ferriesto Dublin. It's a 2 or 4 hour crossibng depending on whether you get the boat or the Fast Cat. Then a 4 hour drive up to Donegal.
(Donegal is actually nearer to Dublin than Kerry.)
Belfast is even bnearer (2.5 hours away) there are ferries from Troon and Cairnryan (Scotland) with Stena
and also an overnight service from Liverpool.

REQUIRED STANDARD
Last year we had everything from good wave sailors to one who was cracking the waterstart.
I suggest that to get the most out of me and the course you need to be comfortable planing in the straps and harness on the open sea on a sub 120 ltr board - be a confident waterstarter AND be a strong swimmer.
If you're not happy in those conditions you're welcome but may have to sit out a few sessions and then join in when we head to the lagoon for some flat water training.

Equipment
Bring your own. There is NO shop in the area so make sure you have some sparess. In the past, in the event of rare breakages, people have been able to borrow off the generous group. I'll also have a selection of masts and essentials.

What to bring?
If you're driving why not bring the lot!
Ideally you want a free-ride/free-move allrounder that takes a 6.5 and gets you going in 15 knots of wind; and, of course, a wave board, wave/freestyle under 100 ltrs if you wanto get involved in the surf.
Those who brought big kit the past couple of years have enjoyed some glorious cruising in 11 knots.
If you have SUPs or surfboards, bring them too. In fact I strongly urge you to bring SUps (that take a sail) as they are brilliant for training in and out of the waves.

THE DEAL
The course fee is £320 or €370.

We have organised an amazing deal of around €40 per night per person including breakfast at the hotel. This includes a single room supplement.

OUR LOCAL CONTACT, and allround good egg is the extremely affable BRENDAN HONE.
Mobile: +353 872197148
email: honedtoperfection@gmail.com
Post: Forth, Ballyconnell, Falcarragh co. Donegal

TO RESERVE A PLACE:
You just have to contact me on harty@peter-hart.com to check availability and then :
a) if you want to pay in sterling, mail a £100 deposit chq to me or do a bank transfer (details suppkied when we make contact.
b) if you want to pay in Euro, mail Brendan a deposit of €100.
The balance for the course is due on 1st Sept

Booking the Hotel - Brendan will do this for you and you pay the hotel direct on departure.