Ilbaritz - Bora Bora Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s going on with the surf over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a slow start, but the second half of the window has some real potential if you’re patient.

The first couple of days are pretty quiet. We’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the WNW on Saturday the 12th, but it’s crossed up and messy – honestly, not worth paddling out for. You might as well wait. Sunday morning the 13th, things start to wake up. The swell jumps to a clean 4ft from the NW, and with a glassy NE breeze at 5 km/h, it’s looking real good for the early session. The water is sitting at a very warm 73°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – feels like a late summer treat.

Sunday afternoon gets a bit onshore and messy, and Monday the 14th morning is glassy again but the energy is dropping. Tuesday and Wednesday are blown out or just average. Then we get a bit of a gap until the real standouts show up.

Now, here’s where it gets exciting. Thursday the 17th morning, we’ve got a solid 6ft NW groundswell (11-second period) and glassy conditions. The combined energy is pumping at 703 – moderate to strong. This is a good one for intermediates, but it’s getting solid. Then, hold onto your board for Saturday the 19th morning. That’s the big one. We’re looking at a 7ft NW swell with a very long 13-second period, and it’s dead calm. Combined energy is a massive 1395 – that’s strong, powerful surf. This one is for experienced surfers only, as it’s over 7ft and has that long-period grunt. Perfect for a reef break like Ilbaritz - Bora Bora, but it will be powerful and demanding.

The crowd situation? This spot can get crowded, so expect company. The swell direction from the NW lines up perfectly with what this break likes. Early birds will get the cleanest, glassy sets.

Into the second week, the theme holds. Monday the 21st morning looks excellent again – 7ft NW swell, long 14-second period, and a clean offshore breeze from the east at 10 km/h. That’s a dream combo, energy at 1528. Tuesday the 22nd morning is similar, a touch bigger at 8ft, still clean with an east breeze. Again, this is expert territory. The consistency is there, with several mornings offering clean, powerful NW groundswell. After that, it slowly fades. Wednesday the 23rd and Thursday the 24th still have clean, fun-sized waves but the power drops off. By the weekend of the 26th and 27th, it’s mostly onshore slop.

Bottom line: There’s a quiet start, but from Thursday the 17th through Tuesday the 22nd, there are some absolute crackers for those who can handle size and power. The standout is definitely Saturday morning the 19th of September – that 7ft, long-period, glassy session is the one to circle on your calendar. And keep an eye on Monday the 21st morning as a backup banger. If you’re after something a bit smaller but still clean, Sunday the 13th morning is your best early bet.

Stay stoked, watch the tide, and don't be late for that Saturday session.

Rusty.

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