The Maze (Tiree) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you about The Maze (Tiree). I’ve had a long look at the whole 16 days, and I’ve got to be honest – it’s a proper struggle. There’s not a single standout session in the whole run. The finder shows zero recommendations for any morning or afternoon, and the guidance tells me it’s fairly consistent around here, so this is a real bummer. A blank run like this isn’t normal for the area, but we’re stuck with it.

The forecast starts with a bit of a whisper on Monday the 13th of July. We’ve got a tiny 1ft swell from the WNW, with a short period of 7 seconds. The energy is weak (21 on the combined scale). The wind is a cross-off from the SSE, so the surf is clean, but it’s just too small to do anything with. That’s a no-go.

Tuesday the 14th sees a slight bump. The swell lifts to 2ft from the W, and the period stretches to a long 11 seconds, giving it a bit more push. The combined energy is moderate (132). The morning is clean with a light cross-off breeze from the SSE. It’s surfable, but it’s very ordinary. We’re talking small, slow waves. The afternoon turns cross-shore and messy.

From Wednesday the 15th through to the 20th, it’s a grim pattern. The swell stays below 3ft, the period is all over the place, and the winds are mostly cross or cross-off, but the wave quality is just poor. The energy is weak, with values like 48 and 70. The 20th afternoon sees a brief pulse of 3ft from the W, but with a pathetic 5-second period, it’s just lumpy chop.

Then on the 21st of July, we get a bit of size. The swell hits 6ft from the W, with moderate energy (326). But the wind is a fresh cross-onshore from the SW at 22 mph, and it’s raining. The waves are lumpy and messy. That’s not surfable for anyone.

The 22nd of July brings the biggest swell of the period – 8ft from the WSW, with strong energy (669). But it’s paired with a near gale cross-shore wind of 31 mph. That’s a total write-off, a blown-out mess. Even for experts, it’s a no.

The rest of the run from the 23rd to the 28th is a sad story. The swell stays between 1ft and 4ft, the winds are onshore or cross-onshore, and the conditions are consistently poor. There’s a bit of a pulse on the 25th with 4ft from the WSW and a moderate energy (391), but the wind is a moderate cross-onshore, making it choppy. It’s not worth the drive.

So, my honest advice? Don’t bother. The Maze is a beach and point setup that usually fires, but this 16-day window is a proper write-off. The water is currently 56°, which is about average for the time of year, but that’s the only bit of good news. Keep your gear waxed and wait for the next system. The forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a flat, windy mess.

Rusty.

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