Jaguar Magazine 03/2017 – English

XF SPORTBRAKE The

XF SPORTBRAKE The Northern Irish coast offers endless golden sand beaches, secret coves, valleys with heart-stopping vistas, and rugged, bare-rock cliffs. It is worldrenowned for its oustanding beauty and for the superb, often empty roads which run through its diverse landscapes. But there’s another, more subtle quality to this place, and it’s as much a reason for us coming here as the quality of the scenery or the driving. It’s the wind. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, the prevailing winds gently breathe on this wild coastline most days. They throw breakers on the shore, provide a subtle aural backing track to the visual spectacle, and make any walk feel like a fresh adventure. To get a feel for it, just watch the global hit TV series Game of Thrones, much of which is filmed in Northern Ireland, in particular around the coast near the famous Giant’s Causeway - it is as much a character in the fantasy phenomenon as Ned Stark, and its breeze has ruffled many a long beard or gown. It also makes the Ulster shore perfect for wind sports, and we’re meeting up with two outgoing local characters who harness this free resource for extreme thrills. ‘Cloud surfer’ Phil Barron is probably Ireland’s most experienced paraglider and a fully qualified instructor too, while Robert Finlay is the multiple Irish national kite buggy champion. The duo have been friends for a decade, and they alert each other when the wind is right and decide to converge on the vast expanse of Benone beach for a barbecue, Robert racing in at 60mph over the sand and Phil dropping in from the sky. PHOTOGRAPHY: LKJDÄLKJDF KJLÄKJ ÖÄÖK ; DFÄÖLKJÄLKDJ ÖÄDFÖÄ (2) 58 THE JAGUAR

PHOTOGRAPHY: LKJDÄLKJDF KJLÄKJ ÖÄÖK ; DFÄÖLKJÄLKDJ ÖÄDFÖÄ (2) Bottom left: Exuding confidence, this most dynamic and capable of SUVs has a striking presence when finished in the unique Velocity Blue with optional carbon kit and 22 inch wheels THE JAGUAR 59