Surf Forecasts:
Boneyards surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 2,724 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 11s period. 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 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.3m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Boneyards over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's get into it. We've got one spot on the radar for this stretch: Boneyards.
The overall story is pretty straightforward. There's some surf on the way, but it's a bit of a mixed bag, requiring you to pick your windows carefully. This is a reef setup and it's inconsistent, so don't expect a non-stop party. The water is sitting at a bit colder than normal for this time of year, around 58°, nothing too extreme but you'll feel it.
We kick things off on Thursday, the 20th of August. You've got a solid 10ft swell out of the SW, giving you a proper amount of energy with the combined energy of all swells here at (2536). It's clean with a cross-off wind, but the report says it's marginal due to tide or something, and the period is 12 seconds, so you're getting some proper groundswell. This is a big wave though, over 8ft, so don't even think about it unless you're an expert.
Friday the 21st looks like the best day of the whole run, and the standout of this outlook. Friday morning is pure magic: 7ft of SW swell with proper 11-second period, and the wind is straight offshore from the SE. That’s going to groom Boneyards into perfection. Combined energy is strong at (947). Expect very good surf conditions, and with it being inconsistent, you'll need patience, but the sets that come through will be worth the wait. Afternoon sees the wind shift a touch, dropping the quality, but morning is the call.
Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are a drop in quality. Saturday morning has a cross-on wind and a small 4ft swell, making it choppy. Not worth it. Sunday picks back up a bit with a 7ft to 8ft swell from the WSW, with a longer 13-second period and clean conditions, but the cross-off wind keeps it from being perfect. The energy is high, (1874 and 1821), but the scores are still just marginal.
Monday the 24th is on the smaller side, 6ft dropping to 4ft, with clean conditions but a moderate breeze. Nothing to get excited about.
Now, look at Tuesday the 25th of August. This is your other standout. Morning is showing 8ft of SW swell, a very long 14-second groundswell, and a fresh offshore wind from the SE. The combined energy hits a massive (2402). That is a serious, powerful swell. It's a big wave again, borderline expert territory, and that long period will make the reef love it. Afternoon stays solid at 8ft with the same offshore wind. This is a heavy day.
After that, Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th drop right off. Thursday afternoon the 27th does go glassy with a 15-second period, but the swell is tiny at 3ft. Nice if you're on a longboard and just want a clean, mellow session, but not for a proper surf.
Friday the 28th brings a big jump back up to 7ft to 8ft swell with a very long 15-16 second period from the WSW. Combined energy is massive (2608 and 2582). The wind is messy on Friday morning though, with a gentle cross-shore chop. Friday afternoon cleans up nicely with a cross-off breeze. This is a big, powerful swell.
Over the weekend of the 29th and 30th, the wind really cranks up from the SE. Saturday the 29th is clean with a fresh offshore, but 22 to 25 mph winds are a mission to paddle in. The swell is still 7ft to 8ft. It's out there, but you'll be working for it. Sunday the 30th fades in size and the wind stays strong.
We hit a rough patch from the 31st of August through the 1st of September. Small swell, onshore winds, and poor conditions. There's a brief moment on the 31st morning with 3ft and an offshore breeze, but it's weak.
Then, between the 2nd and the 4th of September, the ocean goes absolutely mental. We're talking 13ft to 20ft of swell from the WSW on the 2nd, with combined energy readings of (5951) and (13765). That’s not surfable for a paddle board in these conditions—it’s dangerously big and lumpy with cross-on winds. That kind of setup is way more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing at this reef. It slowly drops off through the 3rd and 4th, but stays over 7ft with a cross-on wind, so still messy and big. Not a beginner's window at all.
To sum it up: Friday the 21st morning is your clearest, cleanest window. Tuesday the 25th is your big, powerful, offshore blast for the experts. Get on them.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat night, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SE on Mon night, calm by Wed morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
2536 | 1713 | 947 | 458 | 392 | 510 | 882 | 1032 | 1488 | 1821 | 1280 | 944 | 430 | 2491 | 2402 | 1922 | 1077 | 659 | 598 | 374 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 8:30PM1.04m | 9:46AM0.92m | 10:24PM0.98m | 11:55AM0.96m | 00:06AM1.03m | 12:59PM1.06m | 1:02AM1.13m | 1:37PM1.18m | 1:41AM1.24m | 2:08PM1.31m | 2:13AM1.33m | 2:37PM1.42m | 2:44AM1.41m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:17AM0.62m | 3:49PM0.70m | 5:32AM0.61m | 6:07PM0.66m | 6:46AM0.52m | 7:07PM0.56m | 7:27AM0.41m | 7:45PM0.45m | 7:59AM0.31m | 8:17PM0.34m | 8:27AM0.21m | 8:46PM0.25m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | |
6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:23 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 21 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 20 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 |
2536 | 1713 | 947 | 458 | 392 | 510 | 882 | 980 | 1488 | 1821 | 1280 | 944 | 430 | 2491 | 2402 | 1922 | 1077 | 659 | 598 | 374 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSW 10 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | SSW 11 | — | — | — | SW 11 | W 11 | — | — | S 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | S 10 |
— | — | — | 310 | 291 | 198 | 27 | 1032 | 386 | — | — | — | 297 | 154 | — | — | 74 | 260 | 167 | 204 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SSW 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | — | — | — | SSW 13 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 14 |
— | — | — | — | 81 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 288 | — | — | — | 68 | 88 | 57 | 92 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | — | NW 2 | — | — | SE 3 | — | SE 3 | — | SSE 4 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | — | — |
— | 8 | 74 | 45 | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | 6 | — | 20 | 98 | 215 | 300 | 312 | 198 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 80 | 25 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











