Villefranche sur Mer Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you—this is a tough one for the Villefranche sur Mer area. Over the next 16 days, we're looking at a real dry spell for surf. The first bunch of days are pretty much a write-off, with nothing worth paddling out for. From the 16th of August all the way through to the 25th of August, it's a long stretch of tiny, weak swells or flat spells. The wind is mostly light, but the waves just aren't there. We're talking swell heights under 2 ft, with periods of 3 to 5 seconds—that's pure wind chop, no energy to speak of. The combined energy is a measly 1 to 24 (weak energy), so it's more like a lake than the Med.

The water temperature is sitting at 84°F—that's a huge 9°F warmer than usual, so it's much warmer than normal for this time of year. That's a real standout, but it's the only thing worth a mention.

Now, there is a little flicker late on the 25th of August. The Tuesday afternoon session brings a pulse of 6 ft swell from the SW, with a 6-second period. The combined energy jumps to 261 (moderate wave energy), and the wind is a clean offshore from the WSW at 22 mph. But the wave comment still says "poor surf conditions," and the score is a flat zero. The swell is coming from the SW, but this spot is a reef break that's only "fairly exposed" and prefers a S swell direction, so it's not firing. The wind is strong, and the swell is short-period, so it'll be a messy, blown-out affair. This is really only for experts who are desperate, and even then, it's a long shot. The 26th of August Wednesday morning is a bit better—3 ft from the SW with a 9-second period, combined energy of 162 (moderate), and a light offshore from the NNW at 3 mph. That's "surfable but very ordinary conditions," and it's the only real chance in the whole forecast. The size is manageable for most, but it's still a poor quality wave.

For the rest of the period, it fades back to nothing. If you're looking for a kite session, the 25th afternoon with that strong wind and 6 ft swell might be more interesting for kiting than paddle surfing. But for a proper surf, this is a blank run. The area rarely breaks and is inconsistent, so this is more normal for Villefranche sur Mer than a surprise. Forecasts can change, but for now, don't hold your breath.

Rusty.

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