
Surf Forecasts:
Boneyards surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 7,635 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 11s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Boneyards this week:
The surf forecast for Boneyards over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Boneyards in the next 16 days are 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Boneyards over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming for the next couple of weeks. Only one spot in the mix – Boneyards – and it’s a reef break that doesn’t fire often, so you gotta time it. Water temp is 60°F, which is about normal for this time of year.
Saturday the 18th is a no-go. Small 4ft swell from the SW, 13-second period, but cross-onshore wind makes it choppy. Combined swell energy is moderate at 741. Not worth a paddle.
Sunday the 19th morning has a 6ft swell from the WSW, 12-second period, but it’s marginal with light rain. Afternoon bumps up to 8ft from the SW, but period drops to 9 seconds and it’s still cross-onshore. Skip it. Monday the 20th is similar – messy and small.
Now, Tuesday the 21st afternoon is a standout. Glassy conditions with an 8ft SW swell, 13-second period, and strong combined energy of 2468. That’s clean and powerful – for experienced surfers only.
Tuesday morning also has 8ft from the SSW with a long 14-second period, but it’s marginal with light cross-onshore wind. The afternoon is the one.
Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd are blown out with strong onshore winds. Don’t bother.
Thursday the 23rd afternoon has a 6ft swell from the SSW with a huge 18-second period, but the wind is onshore. A tease.
The next big moment is Friday the 24th. Glassy in the morning with 12ft from the SW, 14-second period, and massive energy at 4334. Expert territory. Afternoon cleans up with a cross-offshore breeze and 10ft swell. This is the top session of the first week.
Saturday the 25th has strong offshore winds from the SE, 8ft swell, 13-second period – clean. Good for strong intermediates.
Sunday the 26th morning is small at 4ft from the WSW but glassy – fun for a log. Afternoon picks up to 5ft from the SSW with a very long 16-second period, clean and glassy. Sneaky good.
Second week: Monday the 27th is clean with moderate offshore winds and 7ft SW swell. Tuesday the 28th has a huge 12ft SW swell, energy at 5702, but strong offshore winds make it clean but hard to paddle into. Only for the fittest.
Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th are dangerous with gale-force winds and 10ft swells. Stay out.
Friday the 31st and Saturday the 1st of August clean up with fresh offshore winds and 6ft to 7ft SW swell – solid, clean days.
The absolute best window is Sunday the 2nd of August. Glassy in the afternoon, 8ft SW swell, 16-second period, and energy at 3334. Clean, powerful, and the pick of the whole outlook.
Boneyards is a reef, so that long-period groundswell will wrap in nicely. Expect crowds sometimes on a day like that.
Choose your days, don’t chase the wind.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Wed afternoon, calm by Fri morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | SSW 18 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
352 | 700 | 972 | 872 | 943 | 470 | 173 | 377 | 2125 | 2454 | 1857 | 1572 | 1496 | 1600 | 1175 | 2189 | 7635 | 4334 | 3550 | 2959 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:19PM1.52m | 6:37AM1.28m | 7:00PM1.42m | 7:22AM1.17m | 7:44PM1.31m | 8:13AM1.07m | 8:36PM1.19m | 9:20AM1.00m | 9:43PM1.11m | 10:47AM0.97m | 11:05PM1.08m | 12:11PM1.01m | 00:19AM1.11m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:39AM0.24m | 12:39PM0.27m | 1:24AM0.34m | 1:20PM0.39m | 2:13AM0.43m | 2:08PM0.51m | 3:14AM0.51m | 3:12PM0.60m | 4:33AM0.55m | 4:46PM0.64m | 5:57AM0.53m | 6:15PM0.61m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | |
5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 12 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
237 | 700 | 972 | 872 | 943 | 470 | 151 | 377 | 2125 | 2454 | 1857 | 1572 | 1496 | 1600 | 1175 | 1220 | 7635 | 4334 | 3550 | 2959 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 10 | SW 12 | W 9 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 14 | SE 13 | SSW 18 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | ESE 11 |
352 | 191 | 143 | 73 | 94 | 121 | 173 | 240 | 39 | 31 | 30 | 11 | 12 | 18 | 6 | 2189 | 35 | 34 | 20 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | W 10 | SSW 7 | SE 11 | W 9 | — | — | SE 15 | ESE 14 | S 21 | SSW 10 | — | — | — | — |
151 | 138 | 85 | 33 | 23 | 22 | 90 | 68 | 60 | 14 | — | — | 8 | 18 | 9 | 57 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | NNW 3 | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | — | — | — | — | SE 4 |
1 | 1 | 455 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 59 | 67 | 41 | — | — | — | — | 12 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 23 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 235 | 32 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Boneyards Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Boneyards provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Boneyards can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Boneyards surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Boneyards) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Boneyards may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a holiday in Cape Town? If you are looking for accommodation near Boneyards, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Cape Town, consider staying in Cape Town which is 26 km (16 miles) away. Other places in and around Cape Town where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Robben Island which is 37 km (23 miles) away, Bellville, Kayamnandi and Stellenbosch.










