Inchydoney Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Inchydoney. It’s a river break, pretty sheltered, so it needs a decent push from the right direction to get going. The water temp is sitting at 64°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – not a big deal, but it’s nice.

Truth is, the first week and a bit here is a real slow burn. There’s nothing doing from Monday the 24th right through until Thursday the 27th. The swell is tiny, mostly 1.0ft to 2ft, and the wind is all over the shop – cross, cross-off, or just plain messy. The combined energy is weak, sitting between 19 and 71, so you’re not missing a thing. It’s a full three-day gap with no surf worth talking about.

Thursday the 27th afternoon finally shows a pulse of life. We get a 3ft swell from the south, with a short period of 7 seconds, but the wind swings light cross-off from the NNE. It’s clean, and the combined energy climbs to 80. It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s surfable, and after that quiet spell, it’s a welcome sight.

Friday the 28th is a step back, with the swell dropping to 1.0ft-1ft. The weekend, however, is a different story. Saturday the 29th brings a solid 6ft swell from the WSW, period a short 6 seconds, but the wind is a fresh cross-shore from the west, up to 22 mph. The combined energy jumps to 240 in the morning and 356 in the afternoon. That’s moderate energy, but the onshore wind is going to make it lumpy – it’s more of a kite session than a paddle session, to be honest.

Sunday the 30th is similar, with 6ft to 7ft swell from the SW, but the wind is fresh cross-onshore, and the energy is strong at 352 to 410. The conditions are going to be pretty rough. This stretch from the 29th to the 31st, with the swell over 5ft, is getting into the experienced-only zone. The best of this bunch is Monday the 31st morning: the swell drops to 5ft from the WSW, period 8 seconds, and the wind is a clean cross-off from the WNW. The combined energy is 277, and it’ll be clean. That’s your standout for the first week.

We then hit another lull on Tuesday the 1st of September, with the wind howling from the SW at 28 mph, making it a complete write-off. But the back half of the week looks better. The real standout is Wednesday the 2nd of September. The morning shows a 4ft swell from the WSW, period 7 seconds, with a moderate offshore wind from the north, and the combined energy is 219. It’s clean. Then Wednesday afternoon turns glassy – zero wind, 4ft from the WSW, and the energy is 222. That’s a magic window. It’s beginner-friendly, too, as the swell is under 5ft. That’s your best call.

The following days fade again. The period from Thursday the 3rd to Sunday the 7th is mostly poor, with swell under 5ft or blown out. The swell returns on Monday the 8th of September, but with a 4ft swell from the WSW and a long period of 15 seconds, the combined energy is a massive 1001. That’s very strong, and the wind is a moderate cross-shore. It’s a powerful groundswell, but with that long period, it’ll be better on reefs or points, and at a river break like Inchydoney, it might straighten out a bit. Still, it’s a promising long-range option, though less certain at this distance.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a struggle. Your best bet is Wednesday the 2nd of September, with that glassy afternoon. For something a bit bigger, Monday the 31st morning is clean. The long-range call on Monday the 8th of September is worth keeping an eye on, but it’s a wait-and-see job.

Rusty.

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