Pors Ar Ville Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the table for Pors Ar Ville. I’ve got to be straight with you – this isn’t a week for big stories. We’ve got a 16-day window ahead, but it’s a real slow burner. The good news is, there’s no massive gap at the start; we’ve got tiny waves from the get-go, but the bad news is the quality is just not there for a proper paddle. For the first week and a half, it’s mostly marginal, with wind and swell direction not lining up for clean, rideable surf. The small windows of cleaner conditions still come with very weak energy.

Right now, starting Wednesday the 12th, we’ve got a tiny 2 ft swell from the west, but it’s messy with a cross-shore wind and a weak energy reading of just 87. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 66°, which is a couple of degrees above average for the time of year – a nice little surprise for the skin. But honestly, the surf is a write-off. Thursday the 13th morning looks cleaner with a cross-offshore breeze and a 3 ft swell from the WNW, but the energy is still low (155) and it’s still rated as poor. This pattern of small, clean but weak swells continues through the 15th and 16th, where the wind turns cross-onshore and choppy. The swell never gets above 3 ft and the energy stays in the low triple digits.

We get a little breather on Monday the 17th with a tiny 2 ft and 1.0 ft swell, but that’s about as exciting as a flat tire. The combined energy drops to 27 and 22 – that’s barely a ripple. Then Tuesday the 18th brings a bit of a jump in size to 5 ft, but it’s a short-period 7 seconds and cross-shore, making for a chop. The cleanest looking day in this first stretch is Wednesday the 19th, with a true offshore wind from the WSW blowing at 15 mph, grooming a 3 ft swell. The period is a meager 6 seconds though, so it’ll be weak and a bit wobble, but at least clean. The energy is a weak 72.

Now, the one and only true standout in this whole 16-day run comes on Thursday the 20th. The morning sees a 6 ft swell from the WNW, with a 9-second period, pushing the combined energy up to 439 – that’s moderate energy, and the most we’ve seen all forecast. The wind is a gentle cross-shore, making for a slight chop but manageable. This is the biggest, punchiest swell of the window. It’s still a bit short-period for a groundswell, but it’s the best on offer. The afternoon holds the same 5 ft size. Remember, this is a beach and reef setup, so a 6 ft swell is getting solid for a point break, but for a beach break, it’s a good size for the average surfer. It’s not too big for beginners, but it’s not a small day either.

After that, the 21st and 22nd turn into a windy onshore mess from the ENE and NE, blowing at 15-18 mph straight into the 4 ft swell. This is purely a kite surfing show – the wind is clean and strong, but the waves will be blown out for a paddle. The energy is moderate (222) but the wind kills it. Then it drops off again. The 23rd and 24th are tiny again, with weak, onshore wind. The last notable pulse is on the 25th with a 4 ft swell from the NW and a clean cross-offshore breeze, but the energy is only 137, and the period is a short 7 seconds. It’s a tidy little cleanup, but nothing special.

The final days, the 26th and 27th, show a 4 ft swell with a 9-second period and moderate energy (291), but it’s cross-shore with a chop. The 27th is the only day in the entire forecast that gets a score of 1/10, which is described as "marginal" – it’s the closest we get to a decent session aside from the 20th. The wind is cross-offshore and clean, with a 4 ft swell and a 10-second period. Still, the energy is 210, so it’s moderate but not a standout.

So, to wrap it up: the best surf on offer is the morning of Thursday the 20th of August. That’s your window. A solid 6 ft swell from the WNW, with a moderate energy of 439, and a gentle cross-shore breeze. It’s not a world-class day, but it’s the only day that’s really worth a look. The rest is a mixed bag of small, weak, or windy conditions. Crowds are noted as "sometimes" at Pors Ar Ville, so you might have some company on that Thursday, but it’s not a given.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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