Nordseeklinik Westerland (Sylt) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s be straight with you – this is a tough one for the North Sea. The whole 16-day window is pretty much a write-off, but there’s a couple of moments that might get the heart going if you’re desperate.

We’re looking at Nordseeklinik Westerland (Sylt). The water temp is sitting at 63°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing weird there.

The first few days are a total dud. Sunday the 12th has onshore wind over 18 mph and a messy 4ft swell that’s just poor. That sets the tone for the whole first week. Monday the 13th has a glassy morning with a tiny 2ft swell, but it’s still poor – just not enough juice. The whole week up to Saturday the 19th is a desert of flat, blown-out, or tiny waves.

Then on Sunday the 20th of July, the North Sea wakes up. It’s a stormy mess with strong onshore winds, but the swell jumps to 6ft in the morning and then 8ft by the afternoon. That’s a big lump of water, but the wind is howling straight onshore at 22-28 mph. The combined energy hits 1028 (moderate to strong), but the conditions are poor. For a beach break like this, that’s more of a kite-surfing scene than a fun paddle. The period on the afternoon wave is 10 seconds, which is a decent groundswell, but it’s got nowhere to go with that wind.

Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd keep the swell around 6ft to 7ft, with moderate onshore or cross-onshore winds. The energy is high (519 and 446), but it’s still messy. The swell is too big and blown out for beginners, and for experts, it’s just a washing machine. It’s not a standout.

The only real standout, if you can call it that, is Thursday the 24th of July. The swell drops to 3ft in the morning from the WNW, with a period of 6 seconds. The wind is still onshore at 15 mph, so it’s not clean, but it’s the smallest, most manageable day of that whole windy stretch. The energy is low (41). If you’re a beginner, this is the only window where it might be safe, but it’s still not good.

The rest of the 16 days trickles out into tiny, weak swells and glassy mornings with no real size. The morning of Saturday the 25th has 1.0ft with a 10-second period and glassy conditions, but it’s just a flat dribble.

So, to sum it up: there are no good surf options here. The first week is a total flat spell, and the second week brings a stormy, blown-out pulse that’s only worth it if you want to get thrashed. For a spot like this, a blank run like this is more normal than you’d hope. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d leave the board at home and go for a walk on the beach.

Rusty.

Read more