
Surf Forecasts:
Boneyards surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, WSW swell with 5,480 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 13s 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Boneyards in the next 16 days are 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 7s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Boneyards over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. The 16-day window opens with a bit of a slow start, but there’s a real pulse building in the second week. The main event is all about Boneyards, a reef setup that handles swell from the west. Overall, we’re looking at a few days of promising, clean surf early on, then a wild, lumpy patch, before a huge, glassy window that could be next-level.
The first real surf kicks off on Wednesday, July 29th. Boneyards is showing a solid 6 ft SW groundswell with a 13-second period and a combined energy of 1162 (moderate to strong). The wind is light and cross-off from the east in the morning, so it’ll be clean and well-shaped. This is excellent for experienced surfers—the swell is over 5 ft, so it’s pushing into intermediate-expert territory. The water temp is 59°, which is about average for this time of year, nothing wild. The afternoon turns a bit more cross-shore, but still manageable.
Thursday the 30th is a standout. The morning is clean with offshore ESE wind at 6 mph, and a 5 ft SW swell, 13-second period, and energy of 821. It’s going to be very good, clean surf. The afternoon holds with a gentle offshore breeze from the SE, swell dropping slightly to 5 ft, but still quality. This is a solid, clean day for a crew that knows the reef.
Friday the 31st is a mellow step down—4 ft SW swell, 12-second period, light offshore winds. Still clean, but the energy is dropping to 429. Still a fun, manageable morning session, especially for the intermediate crowd.
Saturday, August 1st, brings a small pulse of WSW swell at 4 ft with a nice 14-second period. The morning is glassy with ENE wind at 3 mph, and energy is up to 663. The waves should be clean and lined up, but the tide or wind shift in the afternoon makes it a bit tricky. The morning is the pick.
Then there’s a bit of a lull. Sunday the 2nd and Monday the 3rd have some clean, light-wind windows, but the swell is inconsistent and the energy is modest. Not a write-off, but not a call-to-action.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Tuesday the 5th of August through to Friday the 8th, the swell cranks up, but the wind is a mess. We’re talking 10 ft to 13 ft SW groundswells, with energy readings over 2900 and even hitting 7444 on Friday morning. But the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, often strong. The surf will be huge, lumpy, and choppy. If you’re a kite surfer, this is your window—the beach-and-reef setup will be cooking. For paddle surfing, it’s a washing machine unless you’re a total charger and you’re patient with the wind. Late Friday afternoon (August 7th) and Saturday morning (August 8th) have some cleaner cross-off wind, but the swell is still massive (over 8 ft) and the energy is extreme. Experts only, and even then, it’s a gamble.
The true highlight, the one I’m buzzing about, is Tuesday, August 11th. Boneyards is going to be absolutely pumping. We’re looking at a 16 ft NW swell with an 11-second period, and the energy is an enormous 6224. But the wind? Glassy. Dead calm, 3 mph from the north in the morning. This is exceptional surf for expert surfers. The size is massive, the conditions are pristine, and the reef will handle that long-period groundswell beautifully. This is a once-in-a-forecast session. The afternoon gets a bit onshore, so hit the dawn patrol.
The days around that are also very good. Monday the 10th has a building NNW swell, clean offshore winds, and energy climbing. Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th see a return of SW swell with a very long 17-second period, offshore winds, and clean conditions. The energy is strong (over 2800), and the waves will be steep, powerful, and well-shaped. This is a solid run of days for the experienced crew.
So, to wrap it up: the first week has some clean, fun days, but the real gold is in the second week. The 11th of August is the absolute standout—big, glassy, and perfect. The 12th and 13th are also top-tier. The huge swell in between, from the 5th to the 8th, is better left to the kite crowd unless you’re a masochist.
Remember, Boneyards is inconsistent, so when it turns on like this, you don’t miss it. The crowds are “sometimes” here, so expect a few others in the water, but it won’t be a circus.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | WSW 10 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
1200 | 1083 | 821 | 732 | 600 | 471 | 355 | 255 | 663 | 486 | 543 | 594 | 479 | 373 | 341 | 314 | 304 | 206 | 184 | 370 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:33PM1.43m | 3:38AM1.41m | 4:03PM1.48m | 4:09AM1.43m | 4:33PM1.52m | 4:40AM1.42m | 5:03PM1.53m | 5:13AM1.39m | 5:34PM1.52m | 5:47AM1.34m | 6:08PM1.48m | 6:27AM1.27m | 6:48PM1.41m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:40PM0.26m | 9:51AM0.13m | 10:11PM0.22m | 10:18AM0.12m | 10:42PM0.20m | 10:47AM0.12m | 11:13PM0.20m | 11:16AM0.16m | 11:47PM0.22m | 11:48AM0.21m | 00:24AM0.26m | 12:25PM0.29m | 1:09AM0.32m | |||||||
— | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | |
6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | WSW 10 | W 7 |
1200 | 1083 | 821 | 732 | 600 | 471 | 355 | 255 | 663 | 486 | 543 | 594 | 479 | 373 | 341 | 314 | 304 | 198 | 184 | 155 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | — | SE 6 | SE 8 | SW 18 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SW 11 | SW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 |
61 | 47 | 40 | — | 79 | 93 | 78 | 79 | 57 | 61 | 53 | 24 | 23 | 298 | 321 | 260 | 161 | 206 | 137 | 160 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | — | WSW 16 | — | — | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
— | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | 212 | — | — | 15 | 6 | 6 | 19 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 30 | 125 | 370 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | — | ESE 7 | SE 5 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | N 10 | NW 3 | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NW 3 | NW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 |
165 | — | 138 | 40 | 236 | 242 | 52 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 35 | 111 | 218 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










