Caerhays Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Caerhays has got cookin’ over the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. The first week and a bit is a proper write-off, with hardly a ripple to get excited about. From now through the end of August, the swell is tiny and the winds are mostly cross or cross-off, which is alright for the surface but there’s just no power in the water. We’re talking combined swell energy barely scraping double digits most days – a measly 10 to 29 – so you’re basically floating around out there. There’s a real gap with no recommendations from now until the 26th of August.

Now, things do finally wake up late on Wednesday the 26th of August. A bit of a pulse shows up in the afternoon with a 5 ft swell from the SSW and a short period of 6 seconds. The wind is cross-off from the WNW, which keeps it clean, and the combined energy jumps to 138 (moderate energy). That’s a bit of life, but the period is short, so it’ll be a bit fat and unorganised. It’s not the best for a beginner as it’s sizeable, but a decent option for the more experienced crew who are itching.

But the real standout – the one to circle – is the morning of Thursday, the 27th of August. We’ve got a 3 ft swell from the SW with a much better period of 8 seconds, and the wind is off from the NW, meaning clean, lined-up waves. The combined energy hits 278 (moderate energy), which is the strongest we see in this whole forecast. This is the best chance for a proper session at Caerhays. Because the swell has a little more period and size, and it’s from the SSW optimum direction, it should wrap in nicely on this fairly exposed stretch. The afternoon then drops off a bit in height but picks up period (2 ft from WSW, 13 seconds), though the wind goes cross, so it gets a little bumpy – still a solid afternoon option but not as crisp as the morning.

After that, it fades out again. The 28th and 29th see small, weak, cross-shore chop with combined energy under 20, and by the 30th we’re back to 0.3 ft and a 1 or 6. The end of the run into September 1st has a little bump (2 ft, 5 seconds) but the wind is fresh cross-shore, making it lumpy and uninviting.

So, bottom line: if you’ve got a paddle in you, save your energy for Thursday morning the 27th of August. That’s your window for clean, head-high waves with some guts behind them. The rest is a flat spell with a tiny pulse on the 26th that’s worth a look if you’re desperate.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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