Le Petit Minou Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s happening at Le Petit Minou.

Right now, through the end of August and into the first week of September, it’s a pretty grim run for paddling. There’s very little surfable energy, and when the swell does show up, the wind is all over it. For the first several days, we’re looking at tiny, weak waves under 2ft with short periods (6-7 seconds) and onshore or cross-onshore breeze that just messes up any chance of a clean face. The combined energy is low, under 100 (30) on the 24th, and only creeping into moderate territory (109-117) by the 25th and 26th, but still with poor conditions. That stretch from the 24th to the 26th is a write-off.

Things actually get worse around the 27th through to the 31st of August. Swell starts pushing up over 5ft, hitting 7ft and 8ft, but it’s short-period windswell (7-8 seconds) and it’s coming in with onshore or strong cross-onshore winds. You’ve got fresh breezes and lumpy, choppy conditions. The combined energy climbs into the moderate to strong range (370-604), but the quality is still poor. This is beach and point setup, but with this wind, it’s more of a kite-surfing proposition than a paddle session.

Into the first few days of September, the swell dips back under 5ft, but the wind stays mostly onshore or cross-onshore, keeping the surf messy. There’s one glimmer on the morning of September 3rd: a small 4ft swell from WNW (8 seconds) but the wind turns cross-offshore from the north, and the report shows clean conditions with “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions”. At this stage, with minimal quality, that’s about the best you’ll find. The afternoon goes back to cross-shore chop.

The real standout appears on September 8th. Tuesday afternoon shows a big jump in swell: 12ft from WNW with a very long 15-second period. The combined energy is massive (7544). The finder even mentions wind and tide are favorable for the break, but the wave is predicted to be too big for this spot. That’s expert only territory, and with that kind of power and period, the point will be holding a serious line, but it’s not one to take lightly. The morning of the 8th is even bigger, at 15ft and 18 seconds, but with a fresh cross-onshore wind making it lumpy. The afternoon has a gentler wind, making it the best raw wave of the whole forecast, but only for those who know what they’re doing.

Water temp on the 24th is 65°, which is about normal for the time of year.

So, summed up: a long, frustrating stretch of poor conditions, with one late window of quality-but-heavy surf. If you’re a beginner, give it a miss the whole way. For experienced surfers, that afternoon of September 8th at Le Petit Minou is the one to circle on the calendar – but it’s a big one, so pick your battles.

Rusty.

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