Pontaillac Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a good look at what's shaping up for Pontaillac.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this stretch of forecast is a real drought for any decent waves. We're looking at a long, dry spell of pretty much nothing to get excited about. For the first week or so, from Saturday the 18th of July right through to the end of the month, it's mostly tiny, weak swell with poor conditions. The combined wave energy is barely registering, often under 100 (low energy), and the heights are sitting down around 0.6 ft to 1 ft. The wind is often offshore and clean, which would be a dream if there was any swell, but there just isn't. It’s a frustrating tease.

We finally see a bit of a pulse in the water around the 26th and 27th of July. That Sunday the 26th brings a small increase to about 3 ft from the WNW, but the wind is onshore and lumpy, so it's no good. By Monday the 27th, the swell builds to 4 ft from the WNW, and the wave energy picks up to moderate levels (128-217), but it's still a messy cross-shore chop. Not the clean lines we're after. The real standouts, if you can call them that, are a couple of mornings later. On Tuesday the 29th of July, the swell tops out near 5 ft from the WNW with moderate wave energy (529), but again, that cross-shore wind is going to chop it up. That one is borderline for a paddle, but it's definitely too much for beginners.

If you’re an experienced surfer and you're absolutely desperate, the early morning of Wednesday the 29th of July might be your best bet. The swell will be a cleaner shoulder-high 3 ft from the WNW with a nice period of 10 seconds, and a light cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is 180 (moderate), so there’s some push. It’s not world-class, but it’s the cleanest window of the whole forecast. Similarly, Thursday the 30th of July morning has a clean offshore with a small 2 ft swell, and Friday the 31st morning has a moderate offshore with 3 ft. These are tiny, weak days for the skilled longboarder, not for a grovel.

Honestly, for the next couple of weeks, you're looking at a lot of flat, clean water. The setup is more interesting for a kite than a paddle. The crowds at Pontaillac can be an issue sometimes, but with these conditions, you’ll likely have it to yourself. There's just no proper swell to work with, even if the winds are perfect. Keep an eye on it though; forecasts can change.

- Rusty

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