Windsurfing's Mayo Mayhem 2021

The fourth edition of Mayo Mayhem Windsurfing Wave Competition went ahead at the end of September in Belmullet, on Ireland's famous Wild Atlantic Way. This year's event was very special as the 2020 event was canceled due to Covid. Full lockdown and travel restrictions had kept windsurfing competitions off the calendar in Ireland all of last year and it had been two long years since the windsurfing community got together to compete.

This year's competition was held at the beautiful and remote Drum beach on the Belmullet Peninsula in Co. Mayo. The new location and the third different spot in four years proving that the mobile event location model works, with the event just an hour's drive from the main base in Achill.

Drum Beach was chosen as the forecast was showing side shore winds with mid-size waves. The location had easy access and enough parking for the full fleet and with great visibility for everyone to see all the action.

The conditions for competition were excellent: side to side onshore winds allowing most people to use 4.7 to 5.2 sails and waves maxing out at two meters, big enough for the pros yet not too challenging for the amateur fleet. With the added bonus of a full day of sun and dry 16 degrees temperature, it made for perfect conditions for the competition. A fleet of forty windsurfers competed at Mayo Mayhem 2021 with competitors coming from various parts of Europe including Italy, France, England, Wales, and Scotland as well as from all over Ireland.

Keep your diary free for next year's event, being held on the weekend starting Friday September 30th 2022. A rollover will take place on the following weekend in the event of not having contestable conditions.

Check out the video to see all the action here or below  .

Photos by Marco Cavalleri & Kevin Walsh

Video:  Edit : Malcolm Scott , Filmed: Paola Chianese,   Drone :Ross Gamelov Words . Malcolm Scott