Ilbaritz - Bora Bora Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Ilbaritz - Bora Bora over the next couple of weeks.

Alright, so the first thing to say is that the first few days are pretty grim. You’re lookin’ at a real dry spell from now until about the end of the month. The swell is small, the wind is mostly cross or onshore, and the energy is weak. The water is much warmer than normal for this time of year, clockin’ in at 77°, which is over five degrees above the long-term average. That’s very unusual.

Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th have some small swell, but the wind is messy on Monday. Tuesday morning, though, is where we finally get a little life. The 28th of July, Tuesday morning, we’ve got a 4ft NW swell with a 10-second period and a clean, offshore breeze from the east. The combined energy is moderate at 362. It’s a small wave, but it’ll be clean and fun on this reef. The afternoon holds up too, with a 4ft NW swell and a cross-offshore wind. This is the best we’ve got in the first week.

After that, it drops right off. From Wednesday the 29th all the way through to Saturday the 8th of August, it’s a proper flat spell. We’re talkin’ tiny waves, mostly cross-onshore winds, and energy readings that barely get into triple digits. A couple of days in early August, the swell is so small and the wind is so bad, it’s not even worth paddling out. There’s a brief moment on the morning of the 8th with a 2ft NW swell and glassy conditions, but the energy is still weak at 99, and it’s not gonna get ya heart racin’.

Now, the real standout in the whole 16-day window is Sunday the 9th of August. That morning looks bloody promising. We’re talkin’ a 5ft NW swell with a 10-second period, and the wind is completely glassy from the east. The combined energy is a solid 412, so there’s some proper push behind it. This is a reef break, so it’ll handle that long-period groundswell well. The wind is calm, so the surface will be like a mirror. This is your best chance for a real session. The afternoon turns a bit average with cross-onshore wind, so get out there early.

Monday the 10th of August shows a bit more size, with a 6ft NW swell, but the wind is onshore from the west, and the energy is strong at 500. That’s gettin’ into the size where it’s not for beginners, and the onshore wind will make it choppy. It’s a bit of a messy one.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a write-off. Tuesday the 28th of July gives you a clean, small window, but the real day to circle on the calendar is Sunday the 9th of August. That morning will be the best of the bunch. You’ll be chasing that glassy, 5ft NW groundswell. Just be ready for the crowds, as this spot can get busy.

Rusty.

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