Fausse Passe Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let's have a look at what we've got coming in over the next couple of weeks at Fausse Passe. It’s a reef setup, so that's your first clue. It holds swell well but ain’t for the faint-hearted – it's an advanced wave. We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but the back half of the period has some real promise. The water temp is sitting at 72°, and that’s bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises on that front.

The immediate outlook, starting Sunday the 30th, is pretty grim. We're looking at a 7 ft swell from the SSW with a short, bumpy 11-second period and a cross-chop from a SSE breeze at 12 mph. The wave energy is moderate (974), but the combo of wind and tide makes it a bit of a write-off. Sunday afternoon gets bigger to 7 ft and even crosser, so don’t bother.

Monday the 31st sees a drop in size to 5 ft, with a period of 9 seconds, but the wind turns cross-offshore from the SE. It cleans up. The energy drops off too (587). It's surfable but not standout.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Tuesday the 1st of September is a beast. The swell jumps to 8 ft from the SSW, and the period rockets up to 17 seconds. That's a proper, long-period groundswell. The energy is very strong (3574). The wind is cross-offshore from the ESE at 19 mph, so it’ll be clean. But, an 8 ft wave at a reef for advanced surfers only means this: this is big, serious, and beautiful. Be sure of your paddle fitness because those long gaps between sets will be a welcome rest. This is the highlight of the whole window.

The Wednesday the 2nd is the absolute standout for conditions. It'll be 8 ft from the SSW, still a long 14-second period, but the wind goes offshore from the East at 16 mph. That is the magic combination. Clean, powerful, and lined up. The moderate energy (2383) is pumping. If you can get out, this is the one.

Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th see things backing off – 7 ft dropping to 3 ft. The wind stays cross-off, so the shape stays clean, but it gets smaller each day. The energy drops from 1336 down to 355 by Friday morning. It’s marginal.

The weekend of the 5th and 6th is a wipeout. Tiny on the 5th (3 ft), then on Sunday the 6th it jumps back up to 7 ft, but the wind is onshore from the WSW, which will make a mess of that SSW groundswell. Not good.

There's a real treat on Wednesday the 9th of September. Morning glass-off. 5 ft from the SSW with a 12-second period, and the wind is glassy from the NW at 3 mph. That’s about as perfect and clean as it gets. The energy is light (691), but you’ll be surfing in a mirror. That is a serious contender for the best session of the run.

After that, it fades again. Thursday the 10th is tiny and choppy. There's a pulse of energy coming in for the 12th and 13th of September – 7 ft to 8 ft from the SSW with a 14-second period – but the wind is cross or cross-offshore and fresh, which will bring a lumpy chop. The energy is strong again (1852-1889), but it's not as clean as the early week.

The final few days drop back down to 5 ft and under. It fizzles out. So, to sum it up: if you’re an experienced surfer, Wednesday the 2nd of September with that offshore wind is your absolute best bet. Tuesday the 1st is a close second for sheer power, but it’s a heavy 8 ft. And if you miss those, the glassy morning of the 9th of September is a beautiful, smaller, clean option.

Rusty.

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