Bandol - Les Nervis Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on offer here for the next couple of weeks. I’ll be honest with you, it’s a pretty bleak stretch. The first surf recommendation pops up late on Saturday, 11th July, but it’s nothing to get excited about. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with no real quality on the cards.

The initial days are a write-off. Saturday afternoon kicks off with an anemic 2ft swell from the ESE with a period of just 4 seconds and a moderate onshore breeze – that’s a no-go. Sunday the 12th is tiny, with a 0.7ft swell and cross-shore winds, and the pattern continues. Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th are flat or near-flat, with only tiny ripples.

We do get a glimmer of hope, but it’s fleeting. On Wednesday morning, 15th July, we see a glassy 1.0ft swell from the SSE, but it’s carrying very little energy (4). The combined energy is weak. The water is a balmy 77°F, which is a massive 7°F warmer than normal – very unusual for this time of year. But the surf is too small to do anything with.

The rest of the first week and into the second is a desert of flat calm or tiny, poor-quality waves. The wind options are often onshore or cross-onshore, and the swell heights rarely break 2ft. The combined energy values are mostly in single digits, showing how weak it all is.

Then we get a bit of a lift around the end of the second week. On Monday, 20th July, the afternoon brings a 5ft swell from the West with a period of 6 seconds, and a strong offshore wind from the WNW at 25 mph. The combined energy jumps to 176 (moderate). This is a classic case of strong offshore wind making conditions clean but choppy, and the 5ft is on the edge of being heavy for beginners. It’s a kite-surfing kind of day, really. For a paddle surfer, the wind is just too strong to paddle into, and the swell is short-period.

The following day, Tuesday, 21st July, looks similar – 5ft swell from the West with a period of 6 seconds, and a fresh offshore wind at 22 mph. The combined energy is 193 (moderate). Again, very clean for the experts, but it’s going to be a battle to get out.

The stand-out, if you can call it that, is Thursday, 24th July, in the afternoon. A 6ft swell from the WNW with a 6-second period and a light cross-onshore wind. The combined energy hits 248 (moderate). This is the biggest swell of the period, but the wind is not ideal, and the period is short. It’s a punchy, close-out wave for the beach breaks. The best bet for a clean wave would be if you can find a protected reef or point, but the break is listed as a "beach and reef" setup, so it’s not a sure thing. The crowds at Bandol are "sometimes" an issue, so keep an eye out.

The morning of Saturday, 25th July, is also worth a mention – 6ft from the WNW with a 6-second period, but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy. The combined energy is 205 (moderate). The afternoon of the same day is a 6ft swell from the West with a 6-second period, but it’s a straight onshore wind.

Overall, this is a tough forecast. The best surf is likely the 6ft swell on Thursday, 24th July, but it’s not a classic. It’s a case of picking the cleanest window with the least wind. The combined energy in the second week is moderate, but the short period means the waves will be dumpy and hard to ride. For a beginner, anything over 5ft is too big, and the period is too short. For an expert, the offshore winds on the 20th and 21st are the only real clean options, but they’re a battle. The rest is flat or small. It’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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