The Maze (Tiree) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, folks, Rusty here, and it's time to have a proper look at what's on the cards for us over the next couple of weeks. Let's be straight with each other – the models are showing a pretty patchy period ahead. There's a real dry spell coming, so don't be in a rush to clear your calendar just yet.

The only spot with any real consistent form in the guidance is The Maze (Tiree) . This exposed beach and point setup faces west, so it needs the right push, and for the most part, the wind is going to be our enemy. Starting on Thursday morning, the 13th of August, we've got a 5ft swell from the WSW, with a period of 10 seconds. There's moderate wave energy in the water (377), but we're dealing with a cross-off breeze and the data flags it as a marginal call. It's a start, but not one to get overheated over.

The outlook then goes quiet. We've got a proper lull setting in. From Friday the 14th through to Sunday the 16th, there's very little on offer. The wind blows onshore, and the swell drops into the doldrums. That "marginal" or "poor surf conditions" tag hangs over everything. You’re looking at a blank run of three or four days where it's just not worth paddling out.

We get a little flicker on Sunday the 16th morning – a tiny 3ft WNW swell with light cross-off winds and clean conditions, but the energy is borderline weak (79) and it's ordinary at best. Monday the 17th is a write-off; a fresh breeze churns things up. Tuesday and Wednesday the 18th and 19th see a slight pulse in swell size, topping out at 7ft on Wednesday afternoon, but the onshore wind is howling from the WNW, smashing it up. The wave energy is strong (651) but the quality is zero.

Now, here's the one to keep an eye on. Thursday the 20th of August. The morning clears up. There's a solid 6ft swell from the WNW, period of 8 seconds, and a cross-off wind from the NNE. The combined energy is very strong at 804. The data says it's still a "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions" call, but for this entire outlook, this Thursday morning stands out as the best bet we get. It will be a powerful, churning wave for experienced surfers only at that size.

After that peak, the energy falls away rapidly. We get a decent enough Friday morning on the 21st, but the swell is dropping fast. From the 22nd to the 27th of August, the surf is small, below 3ft, and mostly very ordinary. There's a glassy spell on the 22nd and again early on the 27th, but with next to no energy.

Finally, on Friday the 28th of August, things look a little better. A 4ft swell from the west with a 9-second period offers moderate energy (207) and clean conditions with a cross-off breeze. It's surfable and should produce some fun, clean waves, but it's nothing massive.

So, the honest truth? This is a tough two weeks. The standout is Thursday the 20th of August, early, at The Maze. If you're a confident surfer and want a bit of size, that's your window. The water temp is sitting at 58°, which is bang on average for this time of year. For everyone else, the best advice is to be patient. Forecasts change, and a blank run like this isn't the norm round here, so fingers crossed.

Rusty.

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