Ilbaritz - Edouard VII Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next 16 days at Ilbaritz - Edouard VII are a tough stretch for paddle surfing. There’s a long gap of flat, wind-affected conditions right through the end of July and into the first week of August. The first real chance to score comes on the morning of Monday, 28 July, and that’s your only true standout.

The water is sitting at a very unusual 77°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a real bonus for comfort.

That Monday morning, 28 July, is your best bet. You’ll see a clean 4ft swell from the NW, with a period of 10 seconds, riding in on a light easterly offshore breeze. That offshore wind is the key – it’ll keep the surface glassy and the lines clean on this exposed reef break. The combined swell energy is moderate (362), so there’s enough push in the water to get you into some decent waves. The direction is a solid match for the optimum W swell, so expect the reef to line up well. This is an intermediate-level break, so it’s not for beginners, but the quality will be there. Crowds are often an issue here, so if you’re heading out, expect company.

Tuesday afternoon, 28 July, also offers a clean window with a 4ft NW swell, light cross-offshore wind, and moderate energy (284), but it’s not quite as good as Monday morning.

After that, it’s a grim run. From Wednesday, 29 July, through to at least 11 August, the swell drops off, winds shift onshore or cross-onshore, and the combined energy falls into the weak two-digit range. We’re talking small, choppy, and messy surf day after day, with some periods of strong onshore wind that would be more interesting for kite surfing than paddling, especially on the beachier sections. Conditions are consistently described as poor, and there’s simply nothing to get excited about.

So, to wrap it up: your only real session in the next 16 days is the morning of Monday, 28 July. Get it while it’s clean. After that, it’s a long wait.

Rusty.

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