The Maze (Tiree) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right folks, Rusty here. Let's have a proper look at what's on the cards for The Maze (Tiree).

The overall picture is a bit of a mixed bag. We've got a long stretch of mediocre to poor conditions for the next week and a half, but there’s a serious pulse of energy lurking right at the back end of the forecast, which could be something special for the brave. The water is sitting at 59°F, which is dead on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We kick off on Sunday the 16th with a tiny, weak swell around 2ft from the north-west. Period is a short 7 seconds, and the cross-shore wind makes it a write-off. The combined energy is barely a whisper at (87). Honestly, just keep the board in the car for the first week or so.

Through the rest of the week into the next, conditions just aren't playing the game. We get a slight bump on Tuesday the 18th with 6ft from the WSW, but the cross-on wind makes a mess of it. The biggest issue is the wind – it’s on it from the west or north, and it’s nearly always cross or cross-on, keeping the surface lumpy and choppy. For the most part, the surf is small and weak, with combined energy readings barely scraping triple digits. It’s a real flat spell until things start to stir around the 25th.

There’s a quiet improvement around Tuesday the 25th with a 3ft swell from the WNW, period stretching to 9 seconds and gentle onshore wind. The energy ticks up to (160), but the waves are still small and not really offering a clean face. Not worth getting excited about.

Now, here’s where your patience might pay off. Keep your eyes on Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th of August. This is the standout: heavy groundswell from the west and WNW. On Friday it’s 10ft to 12ft with a long 12-second period, and the energy absolutely roars into the thousands – (3699)! Saturday sees it peak at a solid 13ft with that same 12-second period. This is expert territory only, with an onshore wind. The Maze is a point setup, so this long-period groundswell is going to produce some powerful lines for the experienced crew. The strong onshore wind will make it ugly and messy, so only the most experienced, toughest surfers should be out back. The combined energy levels are massive (3809 to 4408), so the ocean will have serious power.

So, the call: Saturday the 29th of August is the time to mark in the diary. The swell size and energy are huge, it's a genuine groundswell, but the wind could trash the surface. If you’re a hardcore charger, that's your window. For everyone else, there’s just nothing clean enough in this 16-day window to recommend a paddle.

Rusty.

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