Hendaye Plage Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Hendaye Plage over the next couple of weeks.

First things first, the water’s a big talking point. It’s sitting at 77°F right now, which is a solid 6°F warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s very unusual, mate. It’s like swimming in a bath, but it’s a nice surprise.

The next few days are a write-off, I’m not gonna lie. We’re looking at a flat spell with next to no energy. From Saturday the 22nd right through to the morning of Tuesday the 26th, there’s nothing worth paddling out for. The swell is tiny, the wind is all over the place, and the combined energy is weak – under 100 during that stretch. Don’t bother.

Things start to get interesting on the morning of Thursday the 27th. The wind swings light offshore from the south, and we get a clean 5ft swell from the WNW with a 9-second period. The combined energy jumps to 378 (moderate), and it’s calling for good surf. The morning will be the only window, though, because the arvo gets smashed by a fresh 19 mph NW wind that turns it into a lumpy mess.

Now, the standout. And I mean *the* standout. Friday morning, the 28th of August. This is for the experienced crew only. We’re looking at a solid 10ft groundswell from the WNW with a long 11-second period. The combined energy is a massive 2337 (strong), and we’ve got clean, cross-off winds from the WSW. The swell is big, powerful, and well overhead. This is not for beginners. It’s going to be a proper session for those who know what they’re doing. The afternoon gets messy with onshore wind, so it’s a morning mission only.

Saturday the 29th drops off a bit, with a 6ft swell but cross winds and a marginal forecast. The quality is gone. The next decent window after that is Sunday morning, the 30th – glassy conditions with a small 4ft NW swell. It’s surfable, but ordinary. The combined energy is only 169 (weak).

The following week is pretty quiet. The swell stays small, mostly under 3ft, with light winds and some glassy mornings. The 6th of September, a Sunday, shows some promise with a 5ft NW groundswell (11-second period) and clean cross-off winds from the WSW, giving a combined energy of 553 (moderate). That’s a good option for the second week, but it’s a long way out, so don’t lock it in just yet.

Overall, the clear standout is Friday morning, the 28th of August. Get on it if you can handle the size. The rest of the run is either flat or average.

Rusty.

Read more