Bragar Windsurfing Guide
General info
Bragar Gallery
Bragar is a world class windsurfing location and undoubtedly a top surf spot that produced peeling left handers from the large outer headland all the way in to the bay. In westerly swell directions it is possible to see huge swells running perpendicular to the coastline out at sea on the bigger days, whose constituent waves peel in to the bay producing high quality rideable waves.
The decent in to Bragar bay is beautiful and provides a good perspective of the set up of the breaking waves should you arrive on a good forecast. The road ends at a slipway and a graveyard. Inside the slipway tends to be an area of flat choppy water with what appears to be a submerged protective bar separating it from the swell.
In general Bragar requires respect especially on the bigger days due to the powerful waves and the rip that runs out of this narrow bay on the right hand side of the slipway along side a small headland past the graveyard. Take a little while to familiarise yourself with the movement of the water in the bay. Standing on the slip way you will generally see that the flow of water from the breaking waves will move anti-clockwise around the bay then along and out in front of you.
It is highly recommended that you hit the water with some form of safety cover should something go wrong. Take a buddy with you, spare rope preparations and keep an eye out. It wouldn't go amiss to examine the bay around the corner for a contingency swim should the worst happen and you get drawn out of the bay with broken kit.
Once you have assessed the session for safety considerations, you can launch off the slip way and windsurf out to the breaking waves. Due to the movement of water and the gradient of the bay it just so happens that the place to head out tends to be on the right hand side of the bay, which then requires a windsurf upwind to the peak. Again on bigger days, there may occassionally be a rogue wave that breaks across the bay and should be easy to avoid by gybing or tacking in time.
All said and done, it's a playground with seemingly endless waves to choose from. Ride, head upwind & repeat.
There is also a small Loch in the bay that could be used to sail in, however water quality is unknown. Best wind directions are W-SW. Best swell direction depends on swell size but westerly would appear to be best to provide enough of a peeling wrappable wave.
Features
Seemingly endless peeling down the line waves are what makes this location stand out.
Considerations
Be aware of a potential rip and strong currents on the right hand side of the bay, that can be problematic if the wind is light or gusty. Make safety preparations and consider recovery options in case of breakages.
Be aware that if the swell is too big and from a north westerly direction then it may make conditions too challenging to be worthwhile since there will be a larger number of close out sets.
Directions to Bragar
Out of Stornoway, head on the A857 north then head west on the A858 at Barvas turning right on to Rathas An Duin in Bragar. Follow this road to the end until you drop down the hill to see the bay and graveyard on the easterly headland