Ilbaritz - Bora Bora Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get stuck into this one. We're looking at a bit of a mixed bag for the next couple of weeks, but there are definitely some windows to get wet.

Looking at the whole picture, the start of the period is pretty slow, with small, junky waves and a lot of onshore wind. The good news is, the ocean’s holding a bit of warmth in it. The water temp is around 74°F, which is a couple of degrees warmer than usual for this time of year – you might not even need the full 4/3.

Now, for the specifics. The opening days are pretty grim. Thursday and Friday are mostly poor, with small NW windswell and cross-shore winds messing things up. There’s a slight upgrade on Saturday morning though. The swell bumps up to about 3ft and it’s glassy, so the lines will have some shape to them. It’s not big, but clean. The energy picks up to a moderate 206, so it feels more alive. That’s your first window.

Then we get a proper surge of energy kicking in. Sunday the 6th is where things start to get interesting. The swell builds to a solid 5ft out of the NW with a 12-second period, and we get a cross-offshore wind in the morning. That’s a classic combo, and the energy level jumps right up to 661. This is the first standout window on offer. It’s a reef, so that long-period groundswell will wrap in nicely. The only downside is the size gets up there, around 5ft, which is maybe a touch much for a beginner to be comfortable, but for the intermediate crew, this is where you want to be.

The following week is a real mixed bag. A lot of choppy afternoons and onshore winds wash things out. There are glimpses, like the clean but small mornings on the 9th and 10th, but they don’t have the size. You’ll be hunting for a peak with a lot of water moving. The energy during these days is mostly moderate, hovering in the 150-240 range, so there’s some push but it’s not a classic.

The real gem in the rough here, and the big one to save your energy for, is the following Sunday, the 13th of September. That’s well over a week out, so don't book the time off just yet, but it’s looking very promising. The forecast is for a solid 5-6ft of NW swell with a long 13-second period. The combined energy is strong, reading 984, which is a big step up from everything else we’ve seen. Morning glass is the call – with zero wind, it’s going to be clean, face-like lines reeling down the reef. This is the standout. It should be grunty and powerful, a proper reef break. Just remember, that size is pushing into expert territory, so be sure you're comfortable before you paddle out. Crowds are often a factor there, so get in early for the dawny.

After that peak, it settles back down. The middle of the following week has a few clean mornings (the 15th and 16th) with small but fun waves around 3ft and a glassy surface. The energy is moderate, so it’s a good time to get the log out or work on your grovel board. There’s no more size on the horizon after that, with the run-out to the end of the period looking small and mostly onshore, so that Sunday is your target.

There’s a brief, clean window on the 16th, but it never really gets going. All in all, there are two real peaks to aim for: Sunday the 6th for a solid session, and that Sunday the 13th looks like the pick of the bunch. The gap after that is a bit of a dud, to be honest, but at least we had some fun before it.

Stay salty.

Rusty

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