La Nartelle Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this 16-day outlook for our stretch of coast is a bit of a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch of flat, small, or just plain messy conditions. The first few days bring a tiny pulse of swell, but it’s weak and short-period, and the rest of the window is a long wait for barely a ripple. Let’s break it down.

The first real surf to speak of hits on Tuesday, 4th August. We’ve got a tiny 2ft to 2ft easterly swell rolling in, but the period is a pathetic 3 to 4 seconds – that’s pure wind chop, not a wave you want to paddle for. The wind is onshore from the ENE at 12 mph, so it’s blown out and messy. The combined wave energy is a weak 5 to 12 (five to twelve). The water is a very warm 82°, which is a massive 8° above normal for this time of year – feels like a bath, but the surf is poor. Not one for the board.

We skip ahead to Wednesday, 5th August. The morning sees a tiny 0.7ft southerly swell, period just 4 seconds, with a cross-offshore wind from the NNW at 3 mph. It’s clean, but there’s almost no energy (combined energy of 1). The afternoon goes flat with zero energy. Honestly, this is not worth suiting up for.

Thursday, 6th August, and Friday, 7th August, show zero to barely 1.0ft of swell. The wind shifts around, but the energy is still in the single digits. The best of this grim spell is Friday morning with a 1.0ft easterly swell and a light cross-offshore breeze, giving clean conditions – but the combined energy is only 2 to 4. You’d be floating more than surfing.

From Saturday, 8th August, right through to Monday, 17th August, the finder shows a massive gap with no swell to speak of. Day after day of flat, clean, or glassy conditions – but with zero wave energy. The wind is light and variable, sometimes glassy, but there’s simply nothing to ride. This is a 10-day stretch of nothing. On Tuesday, 11th August, we get a tiny 0.7ft to 1ft easterly bump with a glassy morning, but the period is 2 to 3 seconds and the energy is 1 to 3. It’s a tease.

The only slight glimmer comes on Tuesday, 18th August. The afternoon shows a 1.0ft southerly swell, period 5 seconds, with the wind going completely calm and glassy conditions. The combined energy climbs to 6 – still weak, but the best we’ve seen in weeks. This is the standout, but it’s tiny, short-period, and for absolute beginners only. The break is La Nartelle, a sheltered, inconsistent spot, and it’s rated for beginners. With a swell this small, it’s barely a ripple.

Best on offer: If you’re desperate for a paddle, the glassy afternoon of Tuesday, 18th August, is your only real shot. 1.0ft southerly swell, clean, calm wind. But don’t expect any real waves.

The rest of the forecast is a flat, blank run. It’s a normal pattern for this area when the swell goes quiet. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a long wait.

Rusty.

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