The Maze (Tiree) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then. Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for The Maze on Tiree, and it’s a tale of two forecasts. We’ve got some proper grunt coming through, but the wind gods are going to be testing our patience for a good stretch first.

The long-range looks like the real winner here, but we’ve got to earn it. There’s a big gap of poor conditions ahead before things turn magic.

For the first week, from Tuesday the 15th through to about Sunday the 21st of September, it’s a write-off for a decent paddle. We’ve got a lot of west-northwest and westerly swell, but it’s arriving with brutal onshore and cross-onshore winds. Tuesday morning sees a building 5 ft W swell at 10 seconds, but with a 16 mph cross-on wind, it’ll be a choppy mess (combined energy 437 – weak). It only gets worse: by Thursday the 17th, we’re looking at 18 ft of W swell at 14 seconds (combined energy 10020 – very strong), but it’s hammered by a 31 mph onshore gale. That’s a washing machine, not a wave. Even the smaller days, like Monday the 22nd with a 7 ft W swell, get blown out by moderate cross-onshore breezes. The water temp is 58°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, but you won’t be feeling it much in that wind.

After that, things start to shift. Tuesday the 22nd of September afternoon is where the hope creeps in. We get a 10 ft W swell, but the period jumps to 15 seconds – that’s a proper long-period groundswell. The wind swings NNW at 9 mph, going cross-shore, making for a gentler, cleaner look (combined energy 6834 – strong). This is where it gets interesting, especially for a point break setup.

But the true standout, the one you’ve got to circle on the calendar, is Monday the 28th and Tuesday the 29th of September. Monday the 28th morning shows a 20 ft WNW swell at 13 seconds (combined energy 10832 – very strong). That’s huge, and only for experts. Then Monday afternoon is where it all lines up: a still-massive 16 ft WNW swell at 12 seconds (combined energy 7258 – very strong), but with a light 6 mph cross-offshore breeze from the SE. The report calls for "exceptional surf for expert surfers" – that’s the kind of phrase that gets your heart rate up. The Maze (Tiree) is a beach and point, and with that long-period swell and clean, cross-off wind, the point should handle it beautifully. Tuesday the 29th stays clean with moderate winds and 11-13 ft WNW swell, still offering solid waves for the experienced crew. Crowds are possible at The Maze, but on a day that big, you’ll have your pick of peaks.

Everything before the 28th is just waiting. The weekend of the 20th-21st is a total loss. But that final Monday and Tuesday? That’s the one. Mark it. It’s a long way off, so keep an eye on it, but the potential is enormous.

Rusty.

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