The Maze (Tiree) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s happening with The Maze over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, I’m looking at a pretty flat spell to kick things off for the first week or so. The Maze (Tiree) is a beach and point setup that’s exposed to the west, which is the right direction for swell, but the energy just isn’t there for a while. The first few days from Sunday the 12th through to the 18th are mostly a write-off, with tiny waves and poor surf conditions. The swell is barely 1 foot to 2 feet, and the combined energy is weak, often under 50. There’s a brief moment on Tuesday the 14th where the swell bumps up to 2 feet to 2 feet with a period of 10-11 seconds from the west, and the wind is light and cross-off, so it’s clean. The combined energy hits 135 in the morning, which is moderate, but it’s still very ordinary. For a spot that’s fairly consistent, this is a quiet stretch. The second half of the week is even smaller, and by Saturday the 18th, the wind is up and choppy.

The real story here is the second week. From Tuesday the 22nd onwards, the swell starts to show some life. Wednesday the 22nd morning sees a clean 2 feet west swell at 10 seconds, with the combined energy at 122 – moderate and on the move. The wind is a light offshore from the SSE, so it’s looking clean. Thursday the 23rd morning is the standout for me. The Maze will have a 3 feet swell from the WNW, a period of 9 seconds, and the wind is glassy from the WSW. The combined energy is 125. That’s the kind of morning you want to be in the water – clean, small but fun, and the crowd profile is listed as “sometimes” so you might have some company but not a zoo.

The best waves on offer, though, are on Friday the 24th. The swell jumps to 4 feet from the WNW in the morning, with a period of 10 seconds and a combined energy of 299, which is strong. The wind is a light cross-onshore, so it’s not perfect, but it’s the biggest, most energetic swell of the whole period. This is a bit too big for beginners, but for intermediate and experienced surfers, it’s the pick of the bunch. The afternoon eases a bit to 4 feet but still has decent energy.

The last few days of the period, the 25th to the 27th, see the swell drop back to 3 feet to 4 feet, but the wind turns more cross-shore and choppy, so it gets messy. The 27th morning brings a 7 feet north swell with a short period of 6 seconds – that’s a lot of size but really poor quality, with cross-onshore wind making it choppy. That’s more for the experts or maybe the kite surfers, because the paddle won’t be fun.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a total dud. The best bet is Tuesday the 22nd through Thursday the 24th, with Friday the 24th being the standout for size and energy. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual. Keep an eye on the wind, but there’s a window of clean, fun waves in there.

Rusty.

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