Anglet - Les Dunes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Look, I’ve been staring at the charts for Anglet - Les Dunes and honestly, it’s a pretty grim 16-day stretch. The water’s sitting at a balmy 77°F right now, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a full 7°F above the long-term average, so that’s a real standout. But the surf? It’s a struggle. There’s a long gap with no real recommendations until Monday morning the 20th of July, and even then it’s a tough sell.

Monday morning the 20th of July starts off with a glassy, clean surface and a tiny 3ft swell from the NNW, with a short period of 6 seconds. The combined energy is weak at 70, so it’s basically a dribble. It’s surfable but very ordinary, and the west-northwest wind is only 5 km/h. This is a beginner break, so for a learner wanting a gentle paddle, it’s okay, but nothing to get excited about. The afternoon turns cross-onshore and choppy, and the rest of the week is a write-off with poor conditions and tiny waves.

The next faint glimmer pops up on Saturday the 25th of July, but it’s a mess. Morning brings a 4ft swell from the west with a 5-second period, and a fresh 22 mph onshore wind. That’s just churned-up slop. The afternoon sees the swell jump to 6ft from the WNW, with the combined energy hitting 337 (moderate), but the onshore wind is still 19 mph and there’s a risk of thunderstorms. It’s poor surf – not for beginners (6ft is pushing it), and the wind is killing it. This trend continues into Sunday the 26th of July, with a 8ft swell from the WNW and an 8-second period, giving a combined energy of 661 (now strong). But again, onshore winds of 16 mph and rain showers make it a complete mess. At a beach break like this, that’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddler’s dream.

Monday the 27th of July drops to 6ft from the NW with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is still high at 490, but the wind is cross-onshore at 9 mph. It’s still poor surf, just a bit less messy. The following days see the swell dropping back to 4ft or less, with only a few glassy mornings on the 29th and 30th of July, where the swell is 3ft from the NW with a 9-second period. Those mornings are clean and glassy – the best on offer, but even then, the waves are ordinary, with combined energy in the 126-166 range (weak to moderate). The period is 9 seconds, so it’s not a proper groundswell, but it’s a step up from the junk.

The standout in this whole period is hard to pick, but I’d lean towards the morning of Thursday the 30th of July. You’ve got a glassy, clean surface with a 3ft swell from the NW at 9 seconds, and an offshore wind from the NNW at just 3 mph. The combined energy is 166 (moderate), and the surf is surfable. It’s a tiny window of clean, workable waves for a beginner. The crowds are sometimes a problem here, so you might have some company. But honestly, for the rest of the window, it’s a long, dry stretch with poor conditions and onshore winds. The second week into August is just as bleak – tiny swell and messy winds. It’s a tough run for the Basque Coast.

Rusty.

Read more