Ilbaritz - Bora Bora Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is a tough one to call. Let me be straight with you – the forecast for Ilbaritz - Bora Bora over the next 16 days is looking pretty bleak. There’s a massive gap here with no real surf to get excited about.

We’re in a classic lull. The water temp is sitting at 77°F, which is a solid 9°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s very unusual and feels more like a bath than the ocean. But that’s where the good news ends.

For the first whole week, from Wednesday the 15th of July right through to Sunday the 20th, it’s just tiny, weak, and messy. We’re looking at poor surf conditions day after day. Swell heights are hovering around 0.7 ft to 2 ft, coming from the NW or NNW, but with periods so short – 4 to 9 seconds – there’s just no push or shape. The combined energy is weak, reading between 13 and 31, which is basically nothing. The winds are mostly onshore or cross-onshore, which is trashing what little ripple there is. There’s one morning on Saturday the 18th that goes glassy, but the swell is only 2 ft with a period of 5 seconds – it’s flat, mate. We’re looking at an 8-day stretch with no recommendations.

Then we get to Monday the 20th, and finally, a little pulse shows up. The Monday morning sees a bump to 4 ft from the NNW, with a period of 7 seconds, and the energy climbs to 111 (moderate). But it’s still onshore wind from the WNW, so it’s going to be a bumpy, choppy mess. That’s the story for the next few days – small waves and poor wind.

The real standout, if you can even call it that, is Saturday the 25th of July. The swell picks up to 7 ft in the morning from the WNW, with a period of 7 seconds, and the energy jumps to 361 (strong). That’s the biggest we’ll see, but it’s an onshore wind from the W at 12 mph. At 7 ft, it’s getting into expert territory, and with that onshore wind, it’s going to be a washing machine. This is a reef break, so it needs clean conditions to shine, and it won’t get them. It’s also fairly consistent, but crowds are often here, so you’d be battling for a piece of a messy wave.

After that, the swell fades again into the last week of July, with small, weak waves and mostly cross-onshore winds. The 30th has a long period of 10 seconds, but the swell is a pathetic 0.7 ft. Not worth a paddle.

Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer on those bigger, windier days. For now, keep your board in the bag. Conditions can change, but right now, there’s nothing to chase.

Rusty.

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