Doolin Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s in store for Doolin Point.

Right off the bat, I’ve got to be straight with you – this is a tough 16-day outlook. The swell is small and the wind is a constant battle. There’s a gap of no real surf to speak of until around the 24th of July, but even then, we’re looking at a long stretch of poor conditions. The water is running a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 63°.

For the first week, it’s a write-off. From Tuesday the 21st right through to the 24th of July, we’re dealing with tiny waves – 1.0ft to 2ft – and the wind is almost always putting a chop on it. The combined energy is weak, just bouncing between 14 and 55. It’s not worth getting wet.

Then on the 24th of July, things start to look a bit more interesting, but it’s still messy. The wind swings onshore and the swell builds from the WNW. Friday the 24th has a tiny 2ft to 3ft, but the energy is still weak (55 to 90). Saturday the 25th kicks it up a notch, with a 5ft to 5ft swell from the W, period drops to a short 5 seconds on the morning, and the energy jumps to 180 to 358. But that wind is howling onshore, 15 to 18 mph, putting a real chop on it. It’s not clean, and it’s not for the faint of heart.

The standout – if you can call it that – is Sunday the 26th of July. The swell is the biggest of the run, 6ft to 7ft from the WNW, with a period of 9 seconds and a combined energy of 559 to 637. That’s moderate to strong energy. But here’s the catch: the wind is a fresh cross-onshore at 22 mph, making it lumpy and tough. This is a reef break, and with that size, it’s strictly for experts only. Over 5ft means it’s too much for beginners, and at 7ft, you need to know what you’re doing. The cross-onshore wind will make it a battle, but there could be a few heavy ones for the brave.

After that, the energy drops off again. The 27th to 29th of July has some 5ft to 5ft swell, but the wind is still fresh and cross-onshore, so it’s choppy and messy. The energy stays moderate, hitting 454 down to 327. By the 30th of July, we’re back to small, marginal stuff with a 4ft swell from the W, and the wind is light cross-shore, only giving a slight chance of a clean wave. But the score is a 1 out of 10, so it’s a gamble.

The second week, from the 1st of August onwards, is a sad story. The swell drops to 4ft down to 1.0ft, and the wind is either a strong cross-onshore or fresh cross-onshore, making it messy or lumpy. The energy stays weak, from 328 down to 25. There’s a moment on the 4th of August where the wind goes cross-off and the waves are clean, but the swell is a pathetic 1.0ft. It’s a glassy, pretty pond, not a surf.

Honestly, Doolin Point is a reef that needs a good W swell and a clean offshore wind. We’re not getting that here. If you’re desperate, Sunday the 26th of July is your best bet, but it’s a rough, expert-only day. The rest of the time, it’s a kite surfer’s paradise with that onshore wind, not a paddle surfer’s.

Keep an eye on the charts, but for now, I’d find something else to do.

Rusty.

Read more