Watch: Crab Island from above

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

Sending a high-pitched whine through an otherwise serene lineup, drones can be a menace when you're surfing. Yet from this side of the screen they sure can deliver, especially when they take in the whole expanse of the playing field and offer a relief view of swell lines feeling the bottom. Short of being there, it's the best understanding you'll get of how a break works.

Below is Crab Island, County Clare, Ireland. A reef that's been surfed since the early 70s by pionering locals and also Kevin Naughton when he passed through Ireland on one of his Surfer-funded trips, but has since been overshadowed by Aileens, Rileys, and Mullaghmore.

The spotlight may have moved on, but Crab Island still looks fantastic on a day like the one below.

Comments

Gary G's picture
Gary G's picture
Gary G Wednesday, 27 Jun 2018 at 1:52pm

Wow, that really brought back the memories.

Unwelcome ones.

Gary spent a bit of time on Crab Island back in the 70s too. Had to move house and buy a whole new wardrobe to get away from the bloody things. Wild times, wouldn't trade them for anything

dangerouskook2000's picture
dangerouskook2000's picture
dangerouskook2000 Wednesday, 27 Jun 2018 at 7:27pm

Gary is a funny cunt

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Wednesday, 27 Jun 2018 at 11:22pm

He is- just don't borrow his towel.

clif's picture
clif's picture
clif Wednesday, 27 Jun 2018 at 6:05pm

all these Ireland clips. Someone @ swellnet hankering for a taste?

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Wednesday, 27 Jun 2018 at 6:07pm

Aye. Just dreaming but.

sasareu's picture
sasareu's picture
sasareu Wednesday, 27 Jun 2018 at 6:31pm

I went to Ireland in 2007. met a big wave surfer of some notoriety who invited to stay at his place and took me to some spots in Northern Ireland.

Such friendly accommodating people, not unlike our fair land in attitude. Absolutely stunning island, scored some perfect wave on the Donnegal coast with three people, boulder bottom into a small harbour, cant remember the name for the life of me!

Ailen's and crab island were shrouded in mist when I visited so no luck there, couldn't see more than 100m!

I would recommend a surf trip to Ireland any day, hire a car and drive the west coast. so many set ups, so few people.

GuySmiley's picture
GuySmiley's picture
GuySmiley Wednesday, 27 Jun 2018 at 7:41pm

Now that's a good looking wave

Spuddups's picture
Spuddups's picture
Spuddups Thursday, 28 Jun 2018 at 5:00am

A mate of mine went to Ireland in December about twenty years ago. He came back and announced that it was like a cold water Indo with no crowds. The only thing was that he reckoned he only saw the sun once in three weeks. I guess it doesn't matter that much when you're scoring good waves.