Etang-Sale Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking at Etang-Sale.

The water is sitting at 76.8° and feels a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, which is a nice little bonus. The first real surf to get excited about kicks off Friday morning, August 7th, with a clean 3ft SW swell and a 12-second period. The combined swell energy is in the moderate range at 473, and with a light ESE cross-off breeze, it’s rideable and clean. Not a standout, but a gentle start.

Friday afternoon sees the swell drop to 1.6ft but the period jumps up to a very long 22 seconds, with a solid 613 energy reading. The wind is offshore from the SE at 15 mph, keeping things clean. This is a proper groundswell, and on a reef setup like this, those long lines will wrap in nicely. It’s a bit small for a full-on session, but for a skilled surfer on a log, it’s got potential.

Saturday morning, August 8th, is where it starts to get tasty. The swell bumps up to 4.3ft from the SSW, with an 18-second period and the combined energy jumps to 1745 – that’s strong wave energy. With a light 6 mph offshore wind, the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. This is a genuine standout session. The reef will handle this long-period swell beautifully, giving you lined-up walls.

Saturday afternoon holds solid with a 4.6ft SW swell, 16-second period, and 1090 energy. The offshore breeze is gentle, and the surf is still excellent for the crew who know what they’re doing.

Sunday morning and afternoon, August 9th, offer a consistent 4.3ft SW swell with periods around 14-15 seconds. The wind stays light and offshore, keeping the faces clean. The energy drops to around 900, but it’s still a very good session, especially for the morning glass-off.

Monday morning, August 10th, is a dream. The sea goes glassy with a WNW breeze at 3 mph, and you’ve got a 4.3ft SW swell with a 14-second period and a strong 1497 energy reading. This is the best of the early week. The reef will be offering up steep, clean walls. Get on it.

Monday afternoon keeps the quality high with a 4.9ft SW swell, 16-second period, and 1225 energy. The wind is a light cross-off, so it’s still clean and punchy.

Tuesday and Wednesday, August 11th and 12th, keep the theme going: 4.3ft to 4.6ft SW swell, 14-15 second periods, light to moderate winds, and energy in the 800-900 range. Very good, consistent conditions. Wednesday afternoon the wind swings onshore from the NW, so the quality drops off.

Thursday, August 13th, sees the swell push up to 5.2ft to 6.2ft, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, making it messy. The conditions are marginal.

Friday, August 14th, is a redemption arc. The morning is cross-shore and a bit messy, but Friday afternoon we get a glassy 6.2ft SSW swell with an 11-second period, and the combined energy is a strong 1859. For experienced surfers, this is a heavy, clean reef session. This is a standout.

Saturday, August 15th, is the real beast. The morning brings a 4.6ft S swell with a very long 19-second period, and the energy is a massive 3126. Offshore wind at 9 mph. The afternoon bumps to 7.2ft from the south, 18-second period, and an energy reading of 4941 – very strong. This is expert territory. The swell direction is a bit south of the optimum, but the power and length are undeniable.

Sunday, August 16th, peaks with a 9.8ft SSW groundswell, 17-second period, and 4272 energy. The morning is glassy. This is big, powerful, and only for the experienced. The afternoon is a cleaner 8.2ft with offshore wind.

The week of August 17th to 22nd continues to offer solid pulses, but the wind ramps up. The mornings are often the cleanest window. From August 17th to 19th, you’ve got 7.2ft to 3.9ft swells, with strong offshore winds that make the faces clean but can be a battle to paddle into. The best of this week is Thursday morning, August 20th, with a 3ft SW swell and long 16-second period, a fresh offshore wind, and 771 energy – it’s clean but small.

The real standout of the entire outlook is Saturday, August 15th, and Sunday, August 16th. The combination of very strong wave energy, long-period groundswell, and offshore or glassy wind makes for surfing that is powerful, clean, and lined up perfectly for the reef. These are the days for the experienced crew to get the wave of the trip.

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