The Maze (Tiree) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks.

To be brutally honest, the entire 16-day window is a bit of a write-off for The Maze. The short-term forecast is consistently poor, and the long-range outlook doesn’t offer much reprieve. You’re looking at a solid stretch of bad conditions with no real standout sessions to get excited about. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so nothing wild there.

The forecast kicks off on Wednesday, the 29th of July, with a 5ft west swell, but it’s paired with a 16 mph cross-on wind. The wave energy is moderate at 331, but the combo of onshore wind and short 8-second period is just making for a choppy, messy lineup. Not worth paddling out.

Thursday the 30th sees a similar story. A 5ft to 6ft swell from the west-northwest but with a fresh 19 mph cross-on breeze. The period drops to 6 seconds, making it even more jumbled. The energy is moderate (183-205), but the wind is just ruining it.

Friday the 31st is smaller, with 3ft to 3ft from the west-southwest and a 16 mph cross-on, and the energy at 38-63 is weak. It’s a washout.

Saturday the 1st of August offers a 4ft to 4ft west swell with a 19 mph onshore wind. The energy is moderate at 92-112, but it’s a lumpy, onshore mess.

Sunday the 2nd is a bit better with a 4ft swell from the west-northwest, a 6 mph onshore wind, and the period lifts to 8 seconds. The energy is moderate at 189. It’s still not great, but the lighter wind makes it the least offensive day of the first week. It’s still poor surf, though.

From Monday the 3rd of August through to about the 11th of August, the swell drops to tiny 1.0ft to 1ft. The combined energy is weak, often under 50. There’s a stretch of clean, cross-off winds on the 3rd and 12th, but with no swell to push, it’s a flat, glassy pond. Not a ripple to ride.

The only small glimmer comes on Friday the 7th of August. The morning shows a 5ft west-southwest swell with a 7-second period, and critically, the wind is glassy. The combined energy is moderate at 238, and the report says “expect good surf conditions.” This is the closest thing to a window, but it’s a short morning window before the wind swings cross-on again in the afternoon. The crowd situation at The Maze says “sometimes,” so it might be worth a look if you’re desperate, but don’t expect a classic.

The 12th of August has a 3ft west swell with clean, cross-off wind, but the combined energy is only 84, and the period is a short 6 seconds. It’s surfable but very ordinary.

The 13th of August shows a 5ft west swell with a 9-second period and a gentle cross-on breeze. The energy is a strong 436, but the cross-on wind will still make it a bit bumpy. It’s a better swell but the wind is just not quite right.

To sum it up, there’s no real standout. The 7th of August morning is the best on offer, but only if you’re willing to gamble on a short glassy window. The rest of the 16 days is a flat, windy, or choppy mess. This is just one of those blank runs for the area.

Rusty.

Read more