Ilbaritz - Bora Bora Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here with the Bora Bora outlook. Let's cut the crap – the next week or so is mostly flat and messy, but I've spotted a couple of windows that could be worth the wait.

The first real chance to get wet doesn't come until Saturday afternoon, the 22nd of August, and even then it's small. The next few days are a long stretch of weak, small, and wind-affected waves. The wave energy is barely registering, with values in the weak range. It's a proper dry spell, so don't rush.

The first session is Saturday afternoon, the 22nd, at Ilbaritz - Bora Bora, a reef break that's fairly consistent. Swell is a tiny 3ft from the NW, with a period of 9 seconds, giving moderate energy (132). The wind is a cross-offshore from the NE at 12 mph, which means clean waves. The water is a warm 77°, which is a massive 6° warmer than usual for this time of year – the ocean is like a warm bath. It's surfable, but the conditions are poor, so it's not a standout.

The following morning, Sunday the 23rd, is a bit better. The wind turns light offshore from the East at 3 mph, which is a huge win for clean lines. The swell is even smaller at 2ft from the NNW, with a short period of 7 seconds and very weak energy (54). It's a clean, tiny wave for the longboard, but nothing to get excited about.

From Monday the 24th through to Friday the 4th of September, it's a real grind. The wind is mostly onshore, cross-on, or messy. The swell is tiny, and the combined energy is often in the double digits – weak. There are a few glassy mornings, like Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st, with 4ft swell from the NW, but it's short period (8 seconds) and the wind is either glassy or light cross-on. The wave comment says "surfable but very ordinary." It's a paddling session, not a highlight.

Now, the only true standout is a long way off, so keep it pencilled in. Saturday morning, the 5th of September, is the best on offer. We've got a solid 5ft swell from the NW, with a very long period of 12 seconds – that's groundswell with heaps of energy (834), and it's going to wrap around the reef with power. The wind is a clean offshore from the East at 9 mph. This is the one. The wave comment says "expect very good surf conditions." The afternoon is still decent with the same 5ft swell and a light cross-shore, but it's a bit more marginal.

A word of caution: that long period, groundswell, makes it powerful and lined up. For the experienced crew, it's a dream. For beginners, 5ft with that period is expert territory. The crowd factor is "often," so expect company.

The rest of the window after that punch is a write-off, with onshore winds and rain.

So, to wrap it up: the next week is a waiting game. The best session by a long shot is the morning of Saturday, the 5th of September. Mark it on the board.

Rusty.

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