Belle Ile - Les Donnants Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Belle Ile - Les Donnants.

Right off the bat, this is a lean stretch. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and ordinary for this spot. The water is sitting at 66°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won't be freezing your toes off.

We start on Monday, 6 July, with a tiny 2 ft swell from the WNW. The energy is weak (62). The morning has a moderate offshore breeze, so it’s clean, but the waves are just ordinary. The afternoon goes glassy, which is a treat for the eyes, but still, the swell is too small to get excited about. This pattern of small, weak surf continues through Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday the 9th and Friday the 10th also offer small, clean surf in the mornings, but it’s all very marginal.

Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th are more of the same – small swell, clean enough in the mornings, but nothing that will get you out of bed early. The energy is still in the doldrums.

Then we hit a real dead zone. From Monday the 13th all the way through to Friday the 17th, the swell drops to almost nothing. We’re talking 0.3 ft to 2 ft at best. The combined energy falls to a pathetic 14 on the 13th, and even down to 4. There’s simply no surf to speak of. It’s a long gap of about five days with nothing worth paddling out for.

The only glimmer of hope comes way out on the horizon. On Saturday the 18th, a pulse of 4 ft to 5 ft swell shows up from the west, but it’s short period (6 seconds) and the wind is a fresh cross or cross-onshore, making it lumpy and messy. The energy jumps to 134, but the conditions are poor. Then on Sunday the 19th, the swell builds to 6 ft from the WNW with a bit more period (8 seconds). The energy is strong (454). But here’s the kicker: the wind is howling onshore or cross-onshore at 15 to 22 mph. That’s blown-out, choppy, and probably more interesting for the kite crew than for a paddle surfer. That 6 ft is also getting into the size where it’s only for experienced surfers, especially with the wind messing it up.

So, the honest truth? There are no true standouts in this 16-day window. The best on offer is that small, clean, glassy surf on Monday the 6th afternoon, but it’s not a standout for quality. The big swell on the 19th has the power, but the wind ruins it. It’s a frustrating run for Les Donnants. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because it tends not to stay this poor forever, but for now, the board might be better off staying in the van.

Rusty.

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