The Maze (Tiree) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks.

Well, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – the outlook for The Maze (Tiree) is a tough one. For the first week and a half, we’re looking at a real struggle. The wind is relentless, mostly cross-onshore and strong, and it’s just blowing the guts out of everything. The surf gets sizeable, but it’s all messy and lumpy. You’ll see a peak of swell on the 7th and 8th of August with combined wave energy hitting 929 (moderate) and 863 (moderate), with 8ft and 8ft of swell, but that wind is just a killer. The water’s sitting at 58°, which is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Sunday the 9th of August. The morning is still a write-off, but by the afternoon the wind swings around to a light cross-offshore breeze from the SSE at only 6 mph. The swell drops a touch to 6ft from the west, but with a period of 9 seconds, it’ll have some shape. The combined energy is still decent at 614 (moderate). The wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions,” and that’s your standout. It’s the one clean session in a sea of blown-out days. The Maze is a beach and point setup, and on a day like this, the point should offer up some proper lines. The crowds are only “sometimes” an issue, so you might have it relatively quiet. This is the one to circle.

After that, it’s back into the wind. The 10th and 11th are small and poor. There’s a small window on the 12th with clean conditions and a 4ft swell from the WSW, period 10 seconds, but the energy is low and the wind is still strong, so it’s marginal at best.

The second week is a bit of a washout. The 13th of August brings a big spike of 10ft from the SW with a period of 7 seconds and combined energy of 1321 (strong), but it’s a complete mess with a strong cross-onshore wind. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one. The 14th and 15th are similar stories – size is there, but the wind is destroying it. The 17th and 18th of August see a change in wind direction to cross-offshore, with 7ft and 7ft swell from the west, but the reports are still “marginal” or “poor.” The period is a consistent 8-9 seconds, which is decent, but the combined energy is moderate (588 and 632). It’s worth a look if you’re desperate, but it’s not the clean gem of the 9th.

Overall, the 9th of August afternoon is your best bet. Everything else is a battle against the wind. Don’t plan a trip around the second week – it’s just too uncertain.

Rusty.

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