The Maze (Tiree) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what the next couple of weeks are serving up for us.

Right, straight off the bat, I’ve got to be honest with you – this is a grim outlook for The Maze (Tiree). We’ve got a long, tough stretch ahead. The forecast is looking at a solid 16-day window, but for the first ten days, it's a write-off. The onshore winds are relentless, smashing up what swell there is.

From Friday the 3rd right through to Sunday the 12th, the wind is howling from the west and southwest, mostly onshore or cross-onshore at 12 to 25 mph. There’s some size there – we see a peak on Saturday the 4th with an 8ft swell from the west, but it’s accompanied by a strong breeze, making it a messy, lumpy churn. The energy is moderate, bouncing around 460 to 1045, but it’s wasted energy. The wave comment spells it out: “poor surf conditions” the entire time. Honestly, with that wind and the beach-and-point setup, if I had a kite, I’d be looking at it differently, but for a paddle surfer? It’s a no-go.

The water temp is sitting at 55°, which is pretty average for the time of year with an anomaly of only 0.2°, so at least you won’t be shocked by the cold, just the disappointment.

We finally get a glimmer of hope on Monday the 13th. The wind swings around to an offshore from the ESE at a light 6 mph, and the morning shows surfable but very ordinary conditions. The swell is tiny, barely 2ft from the west with a weak 7-second period, and energy is a paltry 71. It would be clean, but there's just nothing to ride. The afternoon sees a jump to 4ft with a 12-second period from the west (moderate energy at 464), but the wind goes cross-shore and it's described as marginal.

Tuesday the 14th is the only period that looks half-decent. We’ve got a cross-offshore breeze from the SSE at 12-16 mph, keeping conditions clean. The swell holds at 4ft to 5ft from the west, with a 10-second period. The combined energy is moderate at 367 to 392. It’s not pumping, but after a week of gutless, blown-out slop, this would feel like a victory. The water's still average temp for the time of year.

The rest of the second week just trails off into nothing. Wednesday the 15th drops off, and from Thursday the 16th through to Saturday the 18th, the swell is practically dead – 2ft or smaller, with energy readings in the single digits or low tens. There’s simply nothing to work with.

So, to sum it up for you: the first ten days are a full-on miss. Your only real chance to get wet with a clean wave is on Tuesday the 14th. It’s not a standout by any stretch, but it's the best on offer. Get on it early, because after that, the tap just turns off.

Rusty.

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