Level: Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Chop
Water quality: Crystal clear
Infos: There is a reef line about 100 m out. Waves are never clean and it is never flat. Can be really choppy and awful.
Beach type & size: Sand - Medium
Infos: The beach is wide and clear. Soft sand, plenty of space in winter, but not advised during summer (May to September).
Identified hazards: Bystanders
Beachgoer: May, June, July, August, September
Weather specificities: Good to have a wetsuit, but can also be without. Sea temps 55-70F, air temps 60-75F.
Wind type: Frontal
Wind specificities: Winds in winter are better. You can surf this spot from East/Northeast all the way around to West/Southwest. During winter at least 3 days a week are rideable. Winds vary from 10-30 knots. Many 15-25 knot days during winter. Easterly or West/Southwesterly are nice because they're directly sideoffshore keeping the water mostly flat. Some Southeasterly and Southwesterly winds give rollers, not waves, but they're just enough to give you a little boost upwards.
Best months: January, February, March, November, December
Access description: by Car - Just past the entrance to Elbow Beach Hotel on South Shore Road, round the corner there is a turning next to a pay-phone. Take that strip road down to the beach.
Specific rules: Time
Extra: It's a beach for 2 hotels and many locals. Far too busy to safely launch and land during summer. If riding during summer, go up to Warwick Long Bay. This beach is less popular and even has a 20ft reef rock to jump over! Elbow Beach is fine for the winter months though.
Accommodations: Rooms, Shower, Toilet, Food, Parking
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Level: Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Shallow, Flat, Chop
Water quality: Crystal clear
Infos: Water varies depending on wind directions.
Beach type & size: Sand - Small
Infos: Soft sand. Grass areas nearby allowing you to pack up with no sand. Thin beach though, may require rider or launcher to go into the water. Watch out for trees! Launching can be tricky sometimes with tree lines right on the beach and nearby vacant holiday homes. Watch out for broken glass on the beach !!!!
Identified hazards: Trees
Weather specificities: Winter months are better. Air temps 60-75F, water temps 55-70F. I didn't use a wetsuit all winter, except for a 2mm shorty once or twice. The Bermudians rode with wetsuits.
Wind specificities: Westerly: can be tricky launching. North: allows riding across to Cambridge beaches and back. Northeast: directly onshore, requires upwind riding to get out. Not possible from Somerset Long Bay. Summer months tend to have southerly winds, not possible to ride here then - Elbow beach instead.
Access description: by Car - Drive all the way up to Somerset. Carry on the main road until you pass the market place and gas stations. Go straight on at the corner for Dockyard and head down to Somerset Long Bay Park. Take a left and you'll see the car park and grass in front. This gives you access to Somerset Long Bay.
Accommodations: Toilet
View spot
Level: Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Shallow, Flat, Chop
Water quality: Crystal clear
Infos: Water varies depending on wind direction. In Westerlies the water will be glass-like, especially when the tide is out, due to the land mass at Daniel's Head. At North-Westerly also very flat, can get a little chop. North: more chop, but again dependent on the tides.
Beach type & size: Grass, Sand - Small
Infos: Soft sand. Grass areas nearby allowing you to pack up with no sand. Thin beach though, may require rider or launcher to go into the water. Watch out for trees! Launching can be tricky sometimes with tree lines right on the beach and nearby vacant holiday homes. Sometimes it is better to launch from Somerset Long Bay, depending on the wind direction.
Identified hazards: Trees
Weather specificities: Winter months are better. Air temps 60-75F, water temps 55-70F. I didn't use a wetsuit all winter, except for a 2mm Shorty once or twice. The Bermudians rode with wetsuits.
Wind type: Frontal
Wind specificities: Westerly: can be tricky launching. North: allows riding across to Cambridge beaches and back. Northeast: directly onshore, requires upwind riding to get out. Summer months tend to have southerly winds, not possible to ride here then - Elbow beach instead.
Access description: by Car - Drive all the way up to Somerset and take a left down Long Bay Lane to get to Daniel's Head. You'll see a private property sign at the end on the left, you have to go in the through the car park and past the security gate. Continue on down the hill to Daniel's Head.
Accommodations: Toilet
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