The Maze (Tiree) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get into this one.

We've got a single spot on the radar for this 16-day stretch, and I’ll be honest with you, it’s a tough watch. The forecast is for The Maze (Tiree), but you’re looking at a long, long gap before anything remotely rideable shows up. We’re talking almost no surf worth paddling for a good week.

The first hint of something comes on Tuesday the 19th of August. The Maze will see a WNW swell pushing 6 ft to 7 ft. The period is a solid 10 seconds, carrying some decent energy (884 combined energy). It’s not huge, but those cross-off winds from the SSE should keep things clean. It’s only a 2/10 scenario though; the quality is marginal, and you’d be fighting some questionable tide conditions. The raw power is there, but the polish isn't.

After that brief lift, the swell drops right back. From the 20th through to the 26th, we’re in the doldrums. Swell sizes hover under 5 ft with energy readings all below 200. Add in some strong, messy cross-shore winds, and it’s a write-off for anything except maybe a kite if you’re into that kind of thing. The best you’ll see in that period is a couple of small, clean days on the 23rd and the morning of the 28th, but with a 2 ft wave and very ordinary conditions, it’s not one to get excited about.

Now, a ray of hope in the gloom. Late in the run, Wednesday the 27th of August afternoon sees the wind go offshore from the East. It’s only a 3 ft swell from the west with a 9-second period (175 combined energy), and the score is still just a 1, meaning "surfable but very ordinary." But the clean, offshore conditions are a major positive.

The real standout, as far as it goes, is on Friday the 29th of August. The morning session looks set for a glass-off. The wind is dead from the SSW at 3 mph, making it glassy clean. Yes, the swell is tiny at 1.0 ft from the WNW with a short 7-second period and only 21 combined energy, so we’re talking ankle-snappers. But for a log or a SUP on a quiet bank, in that kind of stillness? That’s the pick of a pretty barren window.

Water temp is sitting at 59°F, which is pretty much spot on for the time of year here.

So, for this one break on Tiree, the forecast is a tough one. A small window on the 19th gives the best chance at some real size, but you’ll have to work for it. The long-range glass-off on the 29th is a promise of peaceful, clean waves, but they’ll be tiny. Overall, it’s a period for the patient.

- Rusty

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