Il Sale Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a pretty quiet start at Il Sale for the next week or so, but there is a serious pulse building for the end of the month that’s worth keeping an eye on. The opening days are lean, with a long stretch of hardly any rideable swell.

Right now, Thursday the 10th, you’re looking at a tiny 3ft swell from the WSW at a weak 6 seconds. Combined energy is only 49, so it’s barely moving. There’s a risk of thunderstorms and a light offshore from the north in the morning, but it’s just not enough to bother with. That afternoon it gets worse, with onshore wind and rain showers.

Friday the 11th has a subtle improvement – a glassy morning with 3ft of WSW swell, period still short at 6 seconds, energy at 112 (moderate). It’s surfable but very ordinary. The westerly wind swings cross-on by the afternoon, dropping the swell to 2ft.

From Saturday the 12th right through to Wednesday the 16th of September, it’s flat to almost flat. Swells drop to 0.7ft or nil, with energy sitting below 10 most days. Mornings are clean with offshore ENE breezes, but there’s simply no wave to ride. That’s a solid 5-day gap with no recommendations.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. On the morning of Thursday the 17th of September, a much better swell arrives. We’re looking at a solid 7ft from the WSW, period at 8 seconds – a moderate groundswell. The combined energy jumps to 510 (moderate to strong). The wind is a light cross-off from the ESE, so it should be clean. This is the first standout in the whole outlook. Il Sale is a reef break, and this longer-period swell will set it up nicely for the experienced crew. Keep in mind it’s an advanced spot, and with 7ft waves, that’s expert territory. It gets blown out by a fresh 19 mph westerly that afternoon, so just a morning window.

Friday the 18th holds a 4ft swell in the morning with light cross-off wind, but it’s a step down in energy (126). Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th drop off again to small, weak waves.

Then, the real standout. On the morning of Thursday the 24th of September, we’ve got a chunky 10ft swell from the south, period at 8 seconds. Energy is a massive 1216 (very strong). That’s a lot of water moving. The wind will be a gentle offshore from the ENE, so it should be clean. This is going to be big and powerful, definitely only for experts at an advanced reef like Il Sale. The afternoon also looks good, dropping to 6ft from the WSW with light cross-off wind (energy 658). This two-day window on the 24th and into the morning of the 25th is the best on offer.

For the first week, there’s nothing to get excited about. The two real highlights are the early morning of the 17th and the morning of the 24th – both promise solid, clean waves for the experienced surfer. Keep your eyes on that 24th – it looks special.

Rusty.

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