Pontaillac Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, I’ll be honest with you, mate. It’s a tough stretch ahead for Pontaillac. The next 16 days look pretty grim for any decent paddle surfing. The swell is either too small, or the wind is just ruining whatever is out there. There’s a bit of energy coming through, but it’s not lining up with the break.

Let’s start with the first bit of surf that’s even worth a mention. Saturday, August 29th, we’ve got a 6ft west-southwest swell rolling in, but it’s arriving with a strong 35 km/h south-west wind. That’s basically a washing machine. You’ll be fighting onshore junk. The combined swell energy is moderate (586), but it’s all for nothing with that wind. The water temp is 74°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s the only bright spot.

Sunday the 30th is more of the same – a 4ft west swell, but still cross-onshore winds. It’s messy and choppy. Monday the 31st, a 5ft west swell, but again, the wind is a cross-onshore moderate breeze. It’s all poor surf conditions.

We finally get a break in the wind on Tuesday, September 1st. The morning glass-off with a north wind at 5 km/h makes it clean, but the swell has dropped to just 3ft. The energy is weak (196). It’s surfable, but very ordinary. Not a standout by any stretch.

After that, it’s a real drought. From Wednesday, September 2nd, right through to Friday, September 11th, the swell is tiny, mostly under 3ft, and the wind is all over the place. There’s a moment on Saturday, September 5th, with a gentle offshore from the north-east and a 3ft, 9-second west-northwest swell. It’s clean, but the energy is only 183. It’s a desperate pick. The water is still warm, but that’s about it.

A little later, on Monday, September 7th, an early morning session with a 2ft, 12-second west swell and a light offshore from the east-southeast could be clean, but the energy is low (128). You’d be on a longboard, scratching for anything.

The whole period ends with nothing. From September 11th onward, the swell collapses to 0.7ft, and the wind is onshore and brutal. On Sunday, September 13th, there’s a 40 km/h WSW wind, which is just a total write-off.

So, the honest truth? There are no standouts. The best of a bad bunch is the early morning of Tuesday, September 1st, or maybe the clean, small conditions on Saturday, September 5th, but neither is worth a special trip. This is a proper blank run for Pontaillac. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d be saving my energy for something else.

Rusty.

Read more