Guidel Plages Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s cut through the noise and look at what the next couple of weeks are serving up for our stretch of coast. We got a long window ahead, but it’s a slow burn to start, then things get real interesting towards the end.

The first few days are going to be a real test of patience. Swell is tiny, and most of it is coming in with a cross-onshore push, making things messy and weak. It’s not a total flat spell, but you’d be straining to find a wave worth paddling for. We’re talking ankle-biters with wind chop, the kind of stuff that’s only good for a paddle if you're desperate. We get a bit more size come Thursday, August 20th, around 5 feet, but it’s all wrapped up in a choppy, cross-onshore mess. Not inviting.

The first real window where the ocean cleans up is Saturday morning, August 22nd. We get a light offshore NE breeze cleaning up what’s left of a small, weak swell. But it’s still only around 2 feet with a short period, so it’s a knee-high runner at best. Then we get a few days of clean but tiny surf, maybe knee to waist-high on the better sets, but it’s all pretty ordinary.

Now, here’s where it gets worth watching. The following Wednesday, August 26th, the wind drops out completely for the morning, leaving the ocean glassy. There’s a little push of west swell to nearly 3 feet, and for a moment, it looks fun. But the energy is still low, and the crowd will be out for anything ridable.

The real standout is the next morning, Thursday, August 27th. Forget the afternoon, because the wind will shred it. But the morning... the morning is special. The faces could be hitting 7 feet of glassy west-southwest swell. The period is short, around 7 seconds, so it’s not a groundswell, but the power is there and it’s clean as a whistle. This is the day to make the most of it before the wind kicks up.

The week after that gets serious, but it’s tricky. Friday, August 28th sees the swell jump to 10 feet plus, with a solid 9-second period. That’s proper size, pushing well into expert territory. The problem is the wind. It’s onshore and cranking, which will turn those waves into a lumpy, blown-out mess. The energy is huge – we’re talking 1806 on the combined scale – but it’s not for the faint-hearted. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfers than paddle surfers to be honest.

Sunday, August 30th, the swell backs down to around 7 feet, but the wind is still onshore and the conditions are questionable. It’s powerful but ugly. The following Monday, August 31st, keeps the size at around 7 feet but with a better 10-second period and a cross-shore wind. Still, it’s nothing to write home about.

The final day of the window, Tuesday, September 1st, sees it drop again with light to moderate onshore winds, finishing the period on a weak note.

So, to wrap it up. The first week is a waste of time unless you’re just keen to get wet. The standout moment is the glassy, 7-foot morning on Thursday, August 27th – that’s your best chance for a proper, clean session. The bigger swells that follow are just too wind-affected to get excited about. Keep your eyes on that Thursday morning, and you might score something special.

Stay stoked,
Rusty

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