Hourtin Plage Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Hourtin Plage. I gotta be straight with you – it’s a bit of a rough start. We’ve got a long stretch of poor surf conditions ahead, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

The first week is pretty much a write-off for good waves. From Sunday the 23rd of August all the way through to Saturday the 29th, it’s just one poor report after another. The swell is tiny, mostly under 2ft, and the wind is all over the place – onshore, cross-on, you name it. The combined wave energy is weak, sitting in the low double digits (29 to 56). Honestly, not worth paddling out for. There’s a bit of a bump on Thursday the 27th afternoon, with the swell pushing 5ft from the W, but it’s got a messy onshore wind and the energy jumps to 374, still labelled as poor. The following day, Friday the 28th, gets bigger – 7ft to 10ft from the W – but with strong cross-onshore winds hitting 25 to 28 mph, it’s a washing machine. The energy is massive (761 to 1773), but it’s all for the kite surfers, not for us. That’s too big and blown out for a paddle.

We get a little taste of hope on Saturday the 29th morning with 7ft from the W, but it’s onshore and only rated as marginal. The next day, Sunday the 30th, has similar 6ft swell from the W, but again, it’s onshore or cross-onshore. The energy is moderate (464 to 407), but the quality just isn’t there.

The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, finally shows up on Monday the 7th of September. That’s over a week away, so keep your fingers crossed. The morning session is looking prime. The wind will be light and offshore from the SE, a gentle breeze, making for clean conditions. The swell picks up to 4ft from the WNW, with a nice long period of 12 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell, which will bring in some well-formed lines. The combined energy is a solid 354, which is moderate to strong. The forecast says “expect good surf conditions,” and for Hourtin Plage, an exposed beach break, that long period might mean the sets are a bit straight, but with that offshore wind, it’ll be worth the wait. It’s an advanced break, so know your limits, and the crowds are sometimes around, so you might have some company. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The rest of the first week of September is a mix of tiny, poor surf. There’s a gap from the 31st of August through to the 6th of September with nothing but poor or marginal spells. The second week up to the 7th is the only real bright spot.

So, to sum it up: sit tight, don’t bother with the gear for the next week, and mark your calendar for Monday the 7th of September. That morning at Hourtin Plage is the best on offer. It’s a bit of a wait, but it could be a cracker.

Rusty.

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