Doolin Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right off the bat, the next week and a bit is going to be a write-off at Doolin Point. We’ve got a serious run of onshore and cross-onshore wind, with the swell jacking up but the ocean turning into a washing machine. The 17th and 18th are looking properly heavy—swell up around 3.0m to 3.5m, but with strong winds and a period in the 10-12 second range. The energy is cranked (1700 to 3447), but it’s all raw and messy. That’s a no-go for anyone but the most seasoned chargers, and even then, it’s not going to be pretty. The 18th has rain on it too, and the wind is swinging around, making it worse. This isn’t paddle surf; if you’re keen on seeing something happen, the kite crew might get a look in with that size and wind.

We finally start to get a bit of relief on the morning of the 20th. The wind swings to a cross-off from the SSE at 20 km/h, and the swell drops to a cleaner 1.9m. It’s still a lot of water moving around, with a 12-second period, so there’s some serious power in it (1049 energy). But the tide and conditions are still questionable, so it’s not all-time. The same vibe carries into the 21st with a lighter 15 km/h cross-off, though the swell backs off slightly. It’s clean, but you’re working for it.

Then, check out the 22nd. Tuesday afternoon is the standout of the whole run. The wind goes almost dead—5 km/h out of the NW—and it’s glassy. The tide is still a question, but with a 1.7m swell from the W at 10 seconds, it’s a proper clean session. The energy is mellow at 629, but it’s shaping up nicely. That’s for the crew who know how to pick the right bank.

The 23rd is a tease. The morning has a punchy 2.5m W swell at 13 seconds (2542 energy), and the cross-off from the SE looks good on paper. But it’s still marginal, so it might be a bit lumpy. Afternoon drops off in size but the wind is light, though it’s cross-on, so the face gets a bit of crumble.

From the 24th on, the size backs off significantly. The 24th and 25th are smaller and the wind is mostly light, but there’s always a bit of chop or a cross-shore element messing with it. The period gets long—up to 15 seconds on the afternoon of the 24th—which at that size (1.2m) is going to feel pretty weak and straight-breaking at a reef like this. It’s not really firing.

The best of the small stuff comes on the 26th. Saturday morning has a clean 0.9m W swell, light offshore from the E at 15 km/h, and the energy is tiny at 153, but it’s clean and glassy. You might get a fun little ripple, but it’s not going to be anything special. That’s more for the longboard or the beginner who’s happy with small, clean surf.

After that, it’s a real struggle. The 27th drops down to 0.4m—essentially flat. The 28th has a bit more but the period is short (8-9 seconds) and the energy is weak. The morning of the 29th is still small with an 11-second period, but the afternoon picks up a touch to 1.3m and the wind goes gentle cross-off from the SE. It’s clean, but the energy is still marginal (394). It might be worth a paddle if you’re desperate.

Finally, on the 30th, we get a tiny, clean 0.9m WNW swell with a light offshore (10 km/h ESE) and a bit of period (11 seconds). It’s clean, but it’s small. Again, that’s a fun wave if you’re a grom or riding a log.

Overall, there’s no big, clean, pumping swell on the menu. The standout is the Tuesday 22nd session—glass, proper size, and a bit of energy. That’s the one to circle. The small clean windows on the 26th and the 29th afternoon are worth a look if you just need to get wet, but don’t expect much push. Everything before that is blown out or just too raw. It’s a waiting game, but there’s a little more hope in the second week—just keep your expectations in check.

Rusty.

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