Etang-Sale Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. The coming fortnight has a solid run of surf, but you’ve gotta be patient and pick your moments. The first few days are small and clean, but from Monday the 20th, the ocean really wakes up. The standout period is the last week of July and into the start of August, with a monster pulse that’s gonna be one for the books.

We’re focusing on Etang-Sale, a reef setup that needs a south-southwest to work its magic. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no wetsuit drama, just your usual summer gear.

The opening weekend... well, it’s gentle. Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th see small, clean, cross-off waves. Swell is around 3ft and the period is long, so there’s good shape but not much push. The combined swell energy is moderate (443 to 533). Fun for a log or a longboard, but nothing to get the heart racing.

Then Monday the 20th, things change. We get a jump in size to 8ft, straight out of the SSW, with a 14-second period. The energy leaps to 2362. This is proper groundswell, and with cross-off winds in the morning and offshore in the afternoon, it’s going to be clean. This is for experienced surfers only – 8ft on a reef is no joke for beginners.

Tuesday the 21st is a mixed bag. The morning is a bit bumpy with a cross-on wind, but the afternoon cleans up nicely. Swell drops to 6ft, still with solid energy (1104). Another good session for the experienced crew.

Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd see some fresh offshore winds, but the swell is a bit smaller and the period shorter. The energy is still there (811 to 1949), but the conditions are a little more tricky. The wind is strong enough to keep the surface clean, but the longer-period swell from the previous days has faded.

Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th settle back into a nice rhythm. Swell is 4ft to 4ft, period around 13-15 seconds, with offshore winds. The energy is moderate to strong (685 to 1242). This is a return to the fun, clean, mid-range surf that this break can do.

Now, the real fireworks start on Sunday the 26th. The morning is small (3ft) but with a ridiculous 21-second period – that’s about as long as it gets. The energy is strong (1216). The afternoon sees a jump to 6ft, with a 19-second period and energy of 2513. This is a long-period groundswell, and it’s going to be glassy or offshore. This is a reef, so it’ll handle that long period beautifully.

But the absolute king is Monday the 27th. 12ft in the morning, 10ft in the afternoon, both from the SSW, with periods of 17 and 16 seconds. The energy figures are 7697 and 5972. This is a massive, powerful, long-period swell. The winds are light offshore or glassy. This is for expert surfers only. It doesn’t get much better than this. If you have the skills, this is the session you wait for all year.

Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th keep the energy high. 10ft swell, with offshore winds. The energy is still massive (4221 to 6450). The morning of the 29th has a cross-on wind, but the afternoon swings back to offshore. Still only for experts.

The final days of the month, the 30th and 31st, see the swell ease off a touch. Still 12ft to 13ft at the start, but by the 31st, it’s back to 8ft. Clean conditions throughout. The 30th morning has a cross-shore wind, but the afternoon is cross-off and clean. The energy is still very strong (6624 to 3452).

Into the first week of August, the 1st and 2nd, the swell backs down to 6ft to 5ft, with clean offshore winds. A nice, manageable end to the run. The energy is moderate (999 to 1354).

So, the pick of the litter is very clear. It’s the Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th of July. Massive, long-period groundswell, glassy and offshore winds, and a reef that can handle it. This is a true standout. The crowds? Etang-Sale is a spot that can get busy, but when the swell is this big, the crowd gets thinned out quick. It’s a proper big-wave day for the dedicated crew.

Rusty.

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