The Maze (Tiree) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

First off, I gotta be straight with you – the start of this period is a tough one to swallow. The Maze (Tiree) is seeing a lot of cross-onshore wind and choppy, poor surf. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 59°, but that’s small comfort when you’re getting blown sideways. The combined swell energy is weak, only around 119 (moderate energy), with a 2ft west swell at 11 seconds. It’s not doing anything for us.

The whole first week is a write-off, honestly. Through the 20th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd of July, it’s the same story: small, messy, and windy. The wind stays cross-on or cross-shore from the north and northwest, and the swell just can’t get its act together. By Thursday the 23rd afternoon, we get a tiny blip of 4ft, but it’s a short period 5-second wave, and the wind is still cross-on. Combined energy is a measly 77 (weak energy). No good.

Now, Friday the 24th of July is where things get interesting, but it’s not for the faint of heart. A proper west swell rolls in, hitting 7ft to 7ft with a 9-second period. The combined energy jumps to 635–726 (strong wave energy). But here’s the kicker – the wind is onshore, strong at 35 km/h from the west-southwest. This setup is going to be a beast. At over 7ft, it’s expert territory, and with that onshore wind, it’s going to be a messy, powerful wall of white water. Honestly, this looks more like a day for the kite surfers than paddle surfers. The break is a beach and point setup, so that wind is going to tear it up.

Saturday the 25th is a bit more promising. The swell holds at 7ft from the west-northwest on the morning, with a 10-second period. Combined energy is a massive 951 (strong wave energy). The wind is still cross-on, though. The afternoon sees it drop to 6ft with a cross-shore wind, which is a little better, but it’s still lumpy.

The theme continues through the 28th of July. We get another pulse pushing 8ft from the west at 8 seconds, with a combined energy of 957 (strong wave energy). The wind is cross-on at 35 km/h. Heavy, powerful, and messy. Again, for experts only, and even then, the conditions are going to be a battle.

The real standout, the one that’s got my heart racing, is the morning of Friday the 31st of July. Mark it on your calendar. The swell drops to a more manageable 3ft from the west, with an 8-second period. But the wind – oh, the wind – it’s a light 15 km/h cross-offshore breeze from the southeast. The report says “clean,” and that’s exactly what we’ve been waiting for. The combined energy is only 105 (moderate energy), but for a clean, groomed little wave, that’s a trade-off I’ll take any day. This is the one to aim for. It’s a small window, but it’s the only window in the whole forecast where the wind is on our side.

After that, it’s a bit of a fade-out. The first few days of August go back to small, cross-on, choppy slop. The only other flicker of life is on the 3rd and 4th of August, where we get a 5ft to 5ft west swell, but the wind is onshore again, making it a messy, unknown quantity.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a washout. The second week has some big, mean, windy waves for experts only. But the absolute best on offer, the one true standout, is the morning of July 31st. Small, clean, and glassy. Be there.

Rusty.

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