Belle Ile Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Belle Ile is serving up over the next couple of weeks.

First off, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch ahead. The next few days are a write-off. We’ve got tiny, weak swell and a lot of onshore wind messing things up. The water is sitting at 68°, which feels a touch warmer than normal for this part of August, but that’s the only thing that’s slightly above average.

We’re looking at a long, slow start. From Friday the 7th right through to the morning of Tuesday the 11th, the swell is basically flat. We’re talking waves around 0.7ft to 1ft with combined wave energy under 100. It’s not going to break a sweat, let alone a wave. You’d be better off taking the dog for a walk or checking the tide pools.

Things start to stir a little on Wednesday the 12th. The combined energy climbs to 106 (moderate), and we see a 2ft to 3ft swell from the west, with a period of 10 seconds. But the wind is cross-onshore and onshore, so it’s going to be bumpy and poor. Not one to get excited about.

Thursday the 13th morning is the first time we see a flicker of potential. The swell is 3ft from the west, a 9-second period, and the wind is a light cross-offshore breeze from the NNE. The energy is moderate at 127, and the conditions are clean. It’s rated as surfable but very ordinary. Honestly, for a beginner or a longboarder just wanting a splash, this might be the best you’ll see for a while. The break is Belle Ile, a fairly consistent spot, but it’s exposed to the SW, and we’re getting a west swell, so it’s not a perfect match.

After that, the outlook gets messy again. The wind goes onshore or cross-shore for the rest of the week. By the 17th of August, the swell picks up to 4ft, and the energy hits 303 (moderate), but with onshore winds, it’s just a washing machine. Then we get into the 19th and 20th with a 4ft to 5ft swell from the WNW, but the wind is a strong breeze, 25 mph, onshore. That’s not surf, that’s a kite session. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The real standout, for what it’s worth, is Saturday the 22nd of August. Things get bigger – a solid 7ft swell from the west with a 10-second period. The combined energy rockets to 770 (very strong). But before you grab your board, look at the wind: 28 to 31 mph from the WNW, onshore. That’s near gale force. This is big, powerful, and completely blown out. It’s an expert-only zone if you’re crazy enough to paddle out, and even then, it’s going to be a battle. The period is 10 seconds, a decent groundswell, but with that wind, it’s not going to be clean.

So, to sum it up: if you’re desperate, the cleanest window is the morning of Thursday the 13th for a small, weak surf. The 22nd of August has the size, but it’s a mess. We’ve got a long gap of poor conditions until then. Don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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