1. Thurso East, Scotland By: Eric halbruner

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. WETSUIT AND BOARD Summer: 4/3 and Boots
Winter: 5/4, Boots, Gloves, and Hood
Summer: 4/3 and Boots
Board: Shortboard for average days, step-up for bigger days

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Cold Water Classic 2011

10. SOURCES http://shaunjoubert.wordpress.com/category/spot-check/