
Surf Forecasts:
Boneyards surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 16s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, SW swell with 3,782 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 21s 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 (Aug 12) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 21s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Boneyards in the next 16 days are 2.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 21s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Boneyards over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I’ve got a good look at what’s coming up for the next few weeks.
The surf is already starting to build in the water, and the first real chance to get wet is on Tuesday afternoon. We’re looking at a solid foundation of groundswell sticking around for a while, but the wind is going to be the main character shaping the sessions.
The action starts on Tuesday, August 11th, with a small but clean 2ft swell out of the SW. The water is sitting at 57°, which is a bit colder than what we usually feel this time of year. The real standout, though, is Wednesday, August 12th. The swell jumps up to a solid 6ft in the morning, also from the SW, with a very long period of 18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. The wind is light and cross-offshore, making for a clean surface. By the afternoon, the wind drops to glassy conditions, and the swell is 7ft at 17 seconds. This is the best of the bunch for the first week. The wave energy is strong at 2454, and that glassy afternoon session is going to be a ripper for experienced surfers.
Thursday morning, August 13th, still has strong 8ft SW swell and a gentle cross-shore wind, but it’s a bit fat and bumpy. The energy is very high at 3538, but it’s not the cleanest. The second half of the week sees the swell drop and the wind turn more cross-onshore, making Friday and Saturday morning a bit of a write-off for the average punter.
The second week is a mixed bag, but there’s a very promising window. Saturday, August 22nd, kicks off with a glassy morning and 5ft of SW swell. That’s a sneaky good session. But the real long-range standout is Sunday, August 23rd. The morning is a bit average, but the afternoon shows a 6ft SSW swell with a 16-second period and a moderate offshore wind. The energy is very high at 2883, and that’s going to be a clean, powerful afternoon. Monday, August 24th, is also a beauty: 8ft SW swell, with a light offshore wind in the morning. Then Tuesday, August 25th, is a dream forecast with zero wind, glassy conditions, and a solid 8ft SW swell at 14 seconds. That is the standout of the entire run. The wave energy is strong at 1951, and it’s begging for a longboard or a step-up.
Just a heads up, Boneyards is a reef break, so it’s best for intermediate to experienced surfers, especially when the swell gets over 8ft. It’s inconsistent, so patience is a virtue. The crowds can show up sometimes, but when it’s this good, that’s hardly a surprise.
This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ESE on Tue night, calm by Wed afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 12 | SW 21 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
455 | 2150 | 2344 | 2375 | 1892 | 3538 | 2535 | 1832 | 1475 | 1374 | 1353 | 1306 | 1161 | 1306 | 1259 | 2053 | 2832 | 2220 | 1816 | 1261 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | glassy | off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:32PM1.51m | 2:47AM1.53m | 3:14PM1.62m | 3:29AM1.56m | 3:53PM1.68m | 4:09AM1.56m | 4:29PM1.69m | 4:46AM1.51m | 5:05PM1.64m | 5:21AM1.43m | 5:39PM1.55m | 5:56AM1.33m | 6:12PM1.43m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:44PM0.13m | 9:02AM0.02m | 9:27PM0.05m | 9:40AM-0.01m | 10:08PM0.02m | 10:16AM-0.00m | 10:46PM0.04m | 10:51AM0.05m | 11:22PM0.10m | 11:24AM0.14m | 11:56PM0.19m | 11:56AM0.25m | 00:31AM0.30m | |||||||
— | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | |
6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 16 | 14 | 15 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 9 | 7 | 12 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SW 21 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 |
421 | 2150 | 2344 | 2375 | 1892 | 3538 | 2535 | 1832 | 1475 | 1374 | 1353 | 1306 | 1161 | 1306 | 1259 | 2053 | 2832 | 2220 | 1816 | 1261 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 24 | SSW 11 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SW 21 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 11 | SE 12 | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 6 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | — | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 |
455 | 211 | 277 | 186 | 1697 | 180 | 127 | 55 | 60 | 34 | 40 | 22 | 22 | 12 | 19 | 11 | — | 14 | 13 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 10 | — | SW 10 | SW 10 | S 10 | — | NNW 6 | — | — | — | ESE 12 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
20 | — | 110 | 51 | 9 | — | 14 | — | — | — | 13 | 37 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | — | — | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NW 5 | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
601 | 493 | 898 | 749 | 248 | — | — | 8 | 22 | 37 | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
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.











