Inchydoney Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

To be straight with you, the outlook for Inchydoney is pretty grim for the first ten days or so. We’ve got a long stretch of poor surf conditions and not much to get excited about. The wind is mostly cross or cross-on, and when it's not, the swell is tiny or the period is all over the place. It’s one of those quiet spells that can test your patience.

The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t show up until Friday the 11th of September. The morning at Inchydoney (river) sees a light offshore breeze from the north at just 3 mph, with a 4.3 ft swell from the SSW. The period is 8 seconds, so it’s a bit short, but the conditions are clean. It’s surfable, but it’s not a standout. The combined energy is moderate at 330. Later that afternoon, the swell bumps up to 5.6 ft from the SSE, but the wind swings cross-shore, and the period stays short. The energy picks up to 476. It’s marginal, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a while.

The second week is a bit of a mixed bag, but nothing to write home about. The 7th of September Monday afternoon has a 4.9 ft swell from the WSW with a 12-second period, giving a strong energy reading of 716. The wind is cross-shore, so it’s not glassy, but there’s some power in the water. The 11th of September afternoon is the only other time the swell hits 5.6 ft, but the wind is light and cross-shore, so it’s messy.

The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual to report. For Inchydoney, it’s a sheltered spot, and the best swell direction is from the SW, which we see a few times, but the wind always seems to spoil it.

Honestly, if you’re desperate for a paddle, the morning of Friday the 11th of September is your best bet. It’s clean, but the swell is short-period and not huge. Don’t expect any magic. The rest of the period is a total write-off for quality surf. There’s a gap of days with no real recommendations, and the swell energy is often weak (56, 77, 79) or the wind is a fresh onshore breeze, making it lumpy and choppy. For a river break, when the wind is onshore and the swell is messy, you might be better off looking at something else. Stay patient, folks.

Read more