Ilbaritz - Bora Bora Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at Ilbaritz - Bora Bora over the next couple of weeks.

The water is sitting at 74°, which is a solid 4° warmer than what’s normal for this time of year. You’re not going to need a thick suit, that’s for sure.

Right off the bat, the best surf we’ll see is on Tuesday morning, the 1st of September. We’ve got a clean 5ft swell rolling in from the NW with a 10-second period, and the wind is a light offshore breeze from the ENE. The wave energy is moderate at 400, and it’s going to be smooth. This is the standout session of the whole outlook, no question. Keep in mind, this is a reef break and it’s often crowded, so expect some company.

The pattern drops off pretty hard after that. Wednesday the 2nd sees a small glassy 3ft NW swell in the morning, but the period is short at 8 seconds, so it’s not going to have much punch. The wave energy is weak at 120. The rest of the first week is a bit of a write-off with small, weak swells and a lot of onshore or cross-shore wind messing things up. Thursday the 3rd through to Saturday the 5th is mostly flat, with tiny 2ft to 3ft waves and very low energy (38-233). Not worth paddling out for.

Now, Sunday the 6th of September is a real treat. The morning is glassy calm with a clean 4ft NW groundswell. The period is a solid 12 seconds, and the energy is a strong 442. This is the second standout. The waves will have some real shape and power, but keep in mind that a long period like this can make a reef break like this really stand up and pitch. It’s a better bet for intermediate and above.

The second week is a mixed bag. Monday the 7th is a no-go with onshore wind. The rest of the week from Tuesday the 8th to Friday the 11th is mostly small, messy, and onshore. You’ll see waves around 3ft to 4ft, but the wind is never right, and it’s all cross-on or onshore, making for chop. The energy is moderate (281-355), but the quality is poor.

There’s a glimmer of hope again on the 15th and 16th of September. Tuesday the 15th morning is glassy with a clean 4ft NW groundswell at 12 seconds and strong energy (373). Wednesday the 16th morning is also glassy, with a 4ft NW swell at 11 seconds and 349 energy. Both are good looking windows, but remember we’re talking 15 and 16 days out, so the certainty isn’t as high. They’re worth keeping an eye on.

Overall, the best bets are Tuesday morning, the 1st, and Sunday morning, the 6th. The rest of the time is mostly small, weak, or blown out. If you’re a beginner, the 3ft on Wednesday the 2nd morning is about right. Anything over 5ft, like the 4ft and 5ft days, might be too much for you.

Rusty.

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