Thurso East, ScotlandBy: Eric halbruner

LOCATION• Northern coast of Scotland

• North Atlantic Ocean

• Breaks at Thurso rivermouth, in front of ruins of 17th-century Thurso Castle

• Mainland Britain’s northernmost town

WEATHER• Average # of rainy days per month: 22• Average air temps: 40-45 degrees F in winter and 55-60 degrees F summer•Prevailing winds: SW (sideshore/onshore) at 15-25mph• 24-hour day in summer

WATER TEMPS• Average Range: 45 degrees F in winter to 55 degrees F in summer

• Warmer water from the North Atlantic current of the Gulf Stream keeps the water temps on Scotland’s western and northern coasts higher than on its east coast

WETSUIT AND BOARD• Winter: 5/4, Boots, Gloves, and Hood

• Summer: 4/3 and Boots

• Board: Shortboard for average days, step-up for bigger days

IDEAL SWELL AND WIND• Breaks on big W or NW swells and on any N swell

• Best on long-period (10+ seconds) groundswell from the NNW (big North Atlantic low pressures)

• Best Wind: SE (offshore)

• Best/most consistent from Sep. to May

THE WAVE AND BATHYMETRY• Right-hand reef/pointbreak

• Works from 3ft to 12ft

• Bottom: Flat slate reef, covered in kelp/moss

• Works on all tides, best at mid-tide

TRAVEL

• Best time to go: Fall, Winter, Spring. Not Summer

• Roundtrip British Airways flight from PHI to Kirkwall, UK in April with 2 stops (London and Aberdeen) and 13+ hrs one-way travel time: $1,005

• British Airways surfboard baggage policy: $0, but they don’t accept ANY baggage over 6’ 2’’ in length, so basically…find another airline

• Distance from Kirkwall to Thurso: 33.5 miles

Cold Water Classic 2011

SOURCES

• http://shaunjoubert.wordpress.com/category/spot-check/• http://www.travelsignposts.com/Scotland/destinations/tour-routes-in-sco

tland• http://www.vacationstogo.com/cruise_port/Scrabster__Scotland.cfm• http://magicseaweed.com/Thurso-East-Surf-Guide/47/• http://www.surfline.com/travel/spot-check-thurso-scotland--checking-in-

at-one-of-the-finest-reef-waves-in-the-north-atlantic_44476/• http://www.surfersvillage.com/surfing/19823/news.htm• http://www.zigzag.co.za/news/contest/7450/O'Neill-Coldwater-Classic-

Scotland-kicks-off-in-perfect-Thurso-East-conditions• http://www.myweather2.com/activity/climate-profile.aspx?id=76785&

month=8• http://

www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/Thurso-East/reliability_by_season• http://youngbloodblog.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/muckle-spate-and-

sunflower-update/q15/

• http://www.surfaroundireland.com/2010_04_01_archive.html• http://www.surfline.com/swell-forecast/scotland/north-scotland_6932• http://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/5393-a-perfect-10-and-endless-bar

rels-in-thurso-east• https://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll• http://www.surfermag.com/features/2011-surfboard-baggage-fee-comp

arison/