Le Phare du Groin du Cou Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here with the imperial read. The next sixteen days at Le Phare du Groin du Cou are a real test of patience. This is a reef break that's wide open to the west, meant for beginners when it's small, but we're looking at a long stretch of either flatness or messy conditions.

From now, Wednesday the 5th of August, through to Monday the 17th of August, there's a huge gap with barely any surf worth mentioning. The swell heights are tiny – under 2 feet for most of it – and the combined wave energy is weak, mostly below 100. The wind is almost always a problem. You'll get a clean morning here and there with an offshore breeze, like Thursday morning the 6th (2ft of west swell at 7 seconds), but there's no power behind it, so it's barely rideable. That afternoon turns into a lumpy cross-shore mess. Friday the 7th morning is glassy but the swell has dropped to 1ft. The only pulse of bigger energy hits Wednesday afternoon the 12th of August, with combined energy at 142 and 2ft of swell from the WSW at 11 seconds, but a moderate cross-shore wind makes it lumpy – not what a reef wants.

The one and only window I'd get excited about is Monday morning the 18th of August (yes, 13 days out). A clean cross-off breeze pairs with 3ft of west swell at 10 seconds. Combined energy is 123, so there's some life. The report calls it "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions" – that's the best we've got. For a reef that loves clean offshore wind, this is your shot. It's small enough for beginners and the moderate period should give it reasonable shape. Water temperature starts at 70°F, pretty average for the time of year.

After that, Tuesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th of August mornings are clean again, but the swell shrinks back to 1ft – 2ft with low energy. Nothing special. This spot is fairly consistent when there's a pulse, but this whole run is a bust. The first week plus is better for a picnic than a paddle. The longer-period groundswell on the 17th afternoon (4ft at 13 seconds, energy 480) gets ruined by a moderate cross-onshore wind – choppy and frustrating.

So keep it simple: if you want the best of a bad bunch, aim for Monday morning the 18th. It's the only time that looks clean and has a bit of poke. Otherwise, save your energy.

Rusty.

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