Ilbaritz - Edouard VII Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is a tricky one. Let's be straight with you. The forecast for Ilbaritz - Edouard VII is mostly a quiet affair. We're looking at a long dry spell to start, with nothing really worth paddling out for. The first few weeks are a real struggle.

The water is sitting at 76°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year. It's a nice feeling, but it doesn't do much for the waves.

The first real glimmer of hope doesn't come until Thursday, the 6th of August. Even then, it's just a small, weak pulse. We're seeing a 3ft swell from the northwest, with a short period of 8 seconds and a combined energy of 143 (moderate). The saving grace is a light cross-offshore wind from the northeast making it clean. The morning session is your only chance, as the afternoon gets chopped up. It's small, but it's something.

After that, we drift back into a flat spell. The next day that even gets a mention is Tuesday, the 11th of August. The morning is glassy, with a light northeast wind, and there's a 3ft northwest swell on the face. The 10-second period gives it a bit more shape than the earlier stuff, and the combined energy is up to 186 (still moderate). It's a clean, small morning, but nothing to write home about.

The real standout, and the one you should circle on the calendar, is Wednesday, the 19th of August. That's a week and a half away, so keep your fingers crossed, but it looks promising. The morning session is glassy with a light northeast wind. The swell is 4ft from the northwest, with a 10-second period and a combined energy of 204 (moderate). The break is a reef, so it handles that longer period better than a beach would. The forecast says "expect good surf conditions", which is the best we've seen all window. It's not a giant, but it's clean, it's got some push, and the wind is perfect. This is the session to aim for.

Monday the 18th of August morning has a bit more size, 4ft, and a very long period of 12 seconds from the northwest, with a combined energy of 532 (strong). But the wind is onshore, and it's rated as marginal. It’s a high-energy, messy option that might be too big for beginners and a bit of a battle for everyone else.

For the rest of the window, the wind is a constant problem. It's mostly cross-onshore or onshore, which chops up the small, weak swell. The afternoon sessions are a write-off. The morning of Saturday the 15th of August is glassy, but the swell is tiny and short period. It's a frustrating run.

If you're a kite surfer, the consistent onshore wind and combined energy might look appealing on the 18th and 19th, but for a paddle surfer, it's a waiting game. The best bet is that Wednesday the 19th of August morning. Don't miss it.

Rusty

Read more