Belle Ile Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the forecast for Belle Ile. Let’s be straight with each other: it’s a quiet stretch ahead. For the first couple of weeks, the swell is tiny and the conditions are pretty average. The water temp is sitting at 68°, which is about normal for this time of year, not too warm, not too cold.

The first glimmer of hope comes on Tuesday, the 28th of July. The morning’s your best bet, with a small 3 ft swell out of the WNW, and a clean, offshore east wind blowing at 12 mph. The waves are rideable, but honestly, it’s very ordinary. The combined energy is weak (107). It’s a small window, but if you’re a beginner, this is the most forgiving it’s going to get. The wind will be glassy and clean, making it feel better than the size suggests.

After that, things go flat for a long, long time. From Tuesday afternoon all the way through to Monday, the 10th of August, the swell just drops off. It’s a dry spell of nearly two weeks with next to nothing. You’ll see readings of 1 ft to 2 ft, mostly onshore or cross-onshore winds, and the kind of chop that makes you wonder why you bothered. The 30th of July Thursday afternoon has a W wind gusting 19 mph, and that’s not worth paddling out for.

Then, on Monday morning, the 10th of August, something interesting happens. The swell picks up to 2 ft from the west with a period of 10 seconds, but the real story is the wind. It’s glassy, dead calm, with a light SE breeze. It’s the cleanest the ocean will be in the whole forecast. The wave energy is still low (78), but it’s rideable. It’s a small, clean, easy session. That’s the standout.

But hold on, because the 11th of August Tuesday morning is where the real energy finally shows up. The swell jumps to 6 ft from the WSW with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is strong (389). That’s a proper push. The wind is light from the NNW, cross-on, but it’s only a slight air. The problem is, the swell is just over 5 ft, so it’s getting a bit too big for beginners, and the short period means it’ll be a bit lumpy and close out at a beach break like Belle Ile. It’s a better option for the experienced crew, but the conditions are still marginal.

Tuesday afternoon the swell hits 7 ft, but that comes with a 12 mph onshore wind, and it’s going to be a mess. The 12th of August Wednesday morning is 7 ft, but again, cross-on wind and a risk of thunderstorms. It’s not going to be clean.

The one true standout for the whole 16 days is that glassy Monday morning on the 10th of August. It’s small, it’s clean, and it’s the most user-friendly wave on offer. The bigger swell on the 11th and 12th is for the dedicated, but don’t expect perfection.

Rusty.

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