Doolin Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, lads. Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s on the cards for Doolin Point. I’ll be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. For the next couple of weeks, the surf just isn’t cooperating, so temper your expectations.

We’re looking at a long, dry spell kicking off. From Thursday the 6th of August right through to the start of the second week, the swell is small and the wind is messy. You’ve got a bit of a pulse around the 7th and 8th, with a couple of 4ft and 3ft swells, but it’s all coming in with a cross-onshore wind, making for choppy, uninviting conditions. The combined wave energy is moderate at best, reaching 288 on Friday afternoon, but it’s just not clean. There’s a glimmer on the morning of Saturday the 8th with a cross-offshore breeze cleaning things up, but the swell is only 3ft and short period at 9 seconds, so it’s not doing much. The water’s sitting around 62° – about normal for this time of year, but you won’t be rushing to get out there for it.

The pattern stays poor through the middle of the month. Swells dip down to 1ft and 2ft with weak energy levels in the teens and twenties. A few morning sessions on the 11th and 17th show a cross-offshore wind, giving clean conditions, but the swell is tiny or weak. The morning of the 17th has a 3ft, 8-second swell with clean conditions and moderate energy of 108, but it’s just not enough to get excited about. We then get a bit more size on the 17th afternoon with a 5ft swell, but it’s cross-onshore and choppy again.

Now, for the one true standout in this outlook, you have to look at the very end. Around Wednesday the 19th of August into Thursday the 20th, the energy finally builds. Wednesday morning brings a 6ft swell from the W, but it’s onshore and rough. However, the real deal is Wednesday afternoon and Thursday: the swell holds around 6ft to 6ft from the W, with the period stretching out to 10 and then 11 seconds on Thursday morning. The combined energy jumps up to 585 on Wednesday afternoon and peaks at a strong 764 on Thursday morning. Now, here’s the kicker – the wind is onshore, which for a reef like Doolin Point is a shame. This is expert territory when it’s big and onshore, so it’s not for the faint-hearted. The long period (11 seconds) means it’ll be a proper groundswell with some punch, but it’s likely to be a bit of a battle. Still, if you’re an experienced hand and you can handle a bit of chop, Thursday the 20th is the best on offer by a country mile.

To sum it up: save your energy for that final push around the 19th and 20th. The rest of the time, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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