Bandol - Les Nervis Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, listen up. It's been dead quiet out here, and that's the whole story for the next two weeks. We're in a serious flat spell, so don't be holding your breath for anything with any push. This is one of those stretches where patience is key, or you find a different hobby for a bit.

The first few days are a total loss. Monday afternoon is flat as a pancake, and Tuesday is just as bad with nothing on the charts. We finally see a tiny blip on Wednesday morning – a weak 2ft at 5 seconds from the WSW with the energy reading a paltry 17. That's just not enough to get the heart rate up. It's clean, with a light cross-off breeze, but honestly, it's barely a ripple.

We slog through the rest of that week and into the next with nothing but dribbles. Thursday afternoon brings a slightly better 3ft at 7 seconds from the W, and the energy jumps to 92, but the notes say it's just "surfable" with very ordinary conditions. That's being kind. The swell is still short-period, so it's going to be gutless and soft. You might snag a knee-high slopper if you're desperate.

The pattern just keeps repeating itself. Morning breezes are light, often offshore or glassy, which is about the only positive. Afternoons stay clean-ish but the swell just never shows up. We see a little 5ft pulse on the 17th (Thursday afternoon) from the W at 7 seconds, with energy at 199, which is the biggest reading of the whole period. But again, the report calls it "very ordinary." A short-period 5ft at a beach and reef setup like Bandol - Les Nervis isn't going to be a classic. It’ll be lumpy and probably closing out.

Then the wind decides to join the party. The 21st (Monday) brings a strong NW offshore, but it's blowing a near gale at 34 mph by the afternoon. The swell is 3ft at 6 seconds, but with that wind, it's going to be a mess and a nightmare to paddle into. That's not surfing, that's a survival session. The 22nd (Tuesday) is a bit better with the wind backing off, but the swell is already fading.

So, what's the call? There are no standout days. If you absolutely have to get wet, that Thursday the 17th afternoon looks like the most "interesting" – I use that term loosely – but it's not good. The energy is there (199), but the period is too short. For this zone, with this kind of weak, short-period wind swell, it's just not worth the paddle. It's a blank run, plain and simple.

The one thing I will say is that the water is running much warmer than normal for this time of year – 76° with a 5° anomaly. It's about as warm as it gets, so if you do go for a swim, it won't be a shock to the system.

Keep the board in the car, but maybe keep the wetsuit on. It's not looking good for a while.

Rusty

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