The Maze (Tiree) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what we’ve got for the next couple of weeks.

First off, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough run ahead. The swell energy is there, no doubt about it, with some proper muscle coming in, but the wind is just gonna ruin it for most of the period. The water’s sitting at 58.8°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The only break on the radar is The Maze (Tiree). It’s a beach and point set-up that’s fairly consistent and exposed to the west, which is the direction we want to see. For the first week, from Monday the 7th right through to Saturday the 12th of September, it’s a write-off. We’ve got strong cross-onshore winds and near-gale force gusts battering the place. The swell is big, 9.8ft to 13.1ft, with moderate to very strong energy (1810 to 3333), but it’s all blown out and messy. Not worth paddling out.

There’s a tiny glimmer on Sunday the 13th of September. The wind swings light onshore, and the swell drops to a waist-high 3.3ft, with weak energy (339). The wave comment says it’s marginal, and I can only give it a shrug. It’s a one-out-of-ten kind of day. Then it’s back to the grinder on Monday the 14th – strong winds and messy surf.

The following week, from Tuesday the 15th to Tuesday the 22nd of September, is more of the same. The swell stays solid, often over 8.2ft and up to 9.8ft, with energy values climbing into the thousands again (over 4000 at one point on the 20th). But the wind is relentless – cross-onshore, strong, and at times gale force. The period is often around 10-12 seconds, which is a decent groundswell, but with that wind, it’s just a washing machine. Honestly, for a beach and point break like The Maze, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing most of these days.

There is one moment that stands out as the best on offer. Check Saturday the 12th of September, morning. The wind is a cross-offshore breeze from the south, and the swell is a solid 9.8ft from the west-northwest, with a very long period of 13 seconds and very strong energy (2614). The wave comment even calls it “clean.” That’s your window. It’s big, over 8.2ft, so this is for experienced surfers only. The long period groundswell will make it powerful and lined up, but it can break a bit straight on a beach, so you’ll want to work the point. Also, The Maze can see crowds sometimes, so get in early.

After that, the rest of the outlook is pretty bleak. Long gaps of no recommendations. It’s a tough stretch.

Stay safe out there.

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