Ilbaritz - Marbella Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Ilbaritz - Marbella over the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with you – it’s a slow start and there’s a lot of flat or poor days to wade through before we get a sniff of anything decent.

Right off the bat, the water’s sitting at a balmy 77°, which is a whopping 6° warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s very unusual, and you’ll feel it.

So, the first bit of the run is a write-off. From the 16th through to the 19th, we’re looking at tiny, gutless swell (combined energy barely cracking 78) with cross-on or onshore winds messing up what little there is. Honestly, you wouldn’t bother paddling out.

We finally get a flicker of life on the morning of the 20th. A glassy start with a pulse of 3 ft NW swell, but the energy is still moderate (214). It’s a tease though, because the afternoon turns to chop. The 21st morning is worth a mention – clean 5 ft NW swell (433), with a light cross-off breeze. Period is 10 seconds, so it’s got some shape, but 5 ft is starting to get a bit much for beginners. The east wind on the 22nd morning gives us a clean 4 ft wave (189 energy), so that’s a window.

Then it all drops off again. From the 23rd right through to the 29th, we’ve got a nasty stretch of tiny waves, onshore winds, and basically nothing to get excited about. Combined energy stays well under 100 for most of it.

Now, hang in there, because things get interesting further out. On the 30th of August, Sunday morning, we see a solid jump: 5 ft NW swell with a long 12-second period, and the combined energy hits 670 (strong). The wind is onshore though, so expect some chop. That afternoon bumps to 5 ft, but still cross-on.

The real standout, the one I’d circle on your calendar, is the morning of the 31st of August. We’ve got 4 ft of NW swell (355 energy), but the wind is glassy – dead calm, offshore. That’s a recipe for clean, lined-up waves. The 10-second period is nice and juicy, too. This is your best bet. It’s a reef break, so it’ll handle that long-period swell well, offering some proper shape. Just know that at 4 ft, it’s still a fun size for intermediates, but fine for anyone with a bit of experience. Crowds can be a factor here, so get there early.

So, to sum it up: don’t waste your energy this week. Wait for the 31st morning for the cleanest, most promising session.

Rusty.

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