Ersary beach (Barra) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright mates, Rusty here, checking in on Ersary beach on Barra. Got to be honest, this one’s a bit of a heartbreaker.

The first week is a total loss. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-on, and when it’s not, the swell is knee-high or has no guts. We get a lot of raw energy kicking in from the 7th of August, with combined swell energy readings hitting the hundreds and even thousands (like 542 on Friday morning and 1109 on Friday afternoon), but it’s all blown out by strong winds. That 8ft swell on the 8th of August? Forget it – the wind is a near gale. That’s not for surfing, that’s a survival drill.

There’s a big hole here. From the start right through the 9th, there’s nothing worth suiting up for. The water temp is about normal for the season, so no worries there, but you won’t be feeling it anyway.

Monday, the 10th of August is the first glimmer. Ersary beach (Barra) faces the NW, and we get a 3ft swell from the west with a 8-second interval. The combined energy is 245, so it’s moderate, but the wind is a clean cross-offshore from the NE at 12 mph. It’s small, it’s clean. The score is a 1 out of 10, so it’s marginal, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a while. It’s a consistent break, so it’ll be breaking, but it’s tiny. A beginner might get a few foamies.

Then we go dead again. The 11th and 12th drop to 1.0ft and 1ft swells, with off or cross-off wind, but no power. The middle of the month is a dry spell.

Sunday, the 16th of August – hold onto your hat. The combined swell energy is a massive 1026 in the morning, then 2388 in the afternoon. That’s serious power. The swell is 8ft from the WSW in the morning, building to 12ft from the west in the afternoon, with a 10-second interval. That’s a strong groundswell. But the wind is cross-on from the NNW at 16 mph. It’s going to be big, messy, and dangerous. This is expert territory only – 8ft is the cut-off, and 12ft is for the brave or the silly. The 10-second interval gives it some shape, but that cross-on wind will make it lumpy and hard to paddle into. If you’re not a local charger, stay on the sand.

Monday, the 17th of August is the real standout. We’ve got 8ft from the west, 10-second interval, combined energy of 1328. The wind is cross-off from the south at 22 mph in the afternoon. That’s a big, powerful, clean wave. It’s a marginal score of 2 out of 10 due to iffy tide conditions, but if you know the bank, there could be a gem. The 8ft size means it’s not for beginners, but for a solid intermediate or expert, this is the one to aim for.

The last few days, the 18th and 19th, fade out. The swell is there, but the wind goes onshore, and the energy drops to 260, then 390. It’s just not happening.

So, the best of the bunch? Monday, the 17th of August afternoon. It’s the only window where a big, clean, west swell hits with a decent interval and cross-off wind. It’s a gamble with the tide, but it’s the one to circle on the calendar. Everything else is a battle.

Rusty out.

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