Belle Ile - Les Donnants Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got to be straight with you – this next 16 days is a lean stretch for the line-up. The only spot in the game is Belle Ile – Les Donnants, and even then, it’s a tough watch. We’re looking at a long dry spell with very little to get excited about, so let’s break it down.

The first sniff of anything surfable is Thursday morning, July 9th. You’re looking at small 2 ft swell from the WNW with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy is weak at 96. The water temperature is a notable 69°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a solid 5° above average. The wind is offshore from the ENE at 9 mph, so it’ll be glassy and clean on the surface. But the waves are just ordinary – small, weak, and not really worth the paddle. That’s the best it gets, and it’s not saying much.

After that, the quality drops off a cliff. Friday the 10th through to the morning of Saturday the 19th of July is a near-total write-off. We’re talking days of poor surf conditions with swell heights bouncing between 1 ft and 3 ft, short periods (5 to 11 seconds), and mostly onshore or cross-shore winds that’ll leave it choppy and messy. The combined energy stays below 100 most days, which is telling. There’s a moment on Saturday morning the 11th with a clean offshore breeze from the east at 16 mph, but the swell is only 1 ft – just not enough to push a wave.

Then, on Sunday the 19th, we get a slight bump. The swell picks up to 3 ft from the west with an 8-second period, and the combined energy climbs to 134. Wind is a light cross-shore from the north at 3 mph, so it’s nearly glassy. But it’s still poor surf conditions – the period is short, the waves are weak, and for a river break like Les Donnants, that’s not going to produce anything rideable. Monday the 20th sees a bit more size at 4 ft from the WNW (6-second period, energy 181), but the wind is cross-offshore from the ENE at 12 mph in the morning, which could clean it up a touch. Still, that’s a stretch.

The biggest spike comes on Wednesday the 22nd of July, with a 6 ft swell from the west (6-second period) and combined energy hitting 232. But the wind is onshore and cross-on from the NW and WNW, blowing 12 to 22 mph, making it a messy, blown-out mess. Thursday the 23rd afternoon sees energy jump to 497, but again, onshore winds and a 5 ft swell from the WSW with a 9-second period – it’s just not going to be clean. By Friday the 24th, the swell is 5 ft from the west, but the wind is cross-on from the NW at 12 mph and then onshore from the WNW at 28 mph. That’s kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing.

So, the standout? Honestly, there isn’t one. Thursday morning, July 9th, is the only window with clean, offshore conditions, but the swell is tiny. If you’re desperate, you could get a few ankle-biters. For a spot that’s consistent, this is a frustrating run. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

Read more