Caerhays Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get this out there. I’ve been staring at the charts for Caerhays and, honestly, it’s a tough stretch. We’ve got a solid 16-day window, but the surf options are pretty much nil for the first week or so. There’s a real dry spell from now until about the 11th of August. If you’re jonesing for a wave, you’re gonna be left high and dry.

The whole run starts off with some cross-offshore wind and tiny surf. Wednesday and Thursday, we’re looking at ankle-biters, maybe 0.7ft to 2ft, with a short period around 6 or 7 seconds. The energy is weak, mostly in the single digits and low teens (42, 19, 10, 8). It’s clean-ish, but there’s just nothing to ride. The weekend of the 7th and 8th is even smaller, with a 15-second groundswell showing up but only pushing 0.3ft. That’s a tease, not a swell. It’s glassy on Friday morning, which would be great if there was any power behind it.

The gap continues right through the 10th. We’ve got a solid 7-day stretch with no real surf on offer. The wind is mostly cross-off or offshore, but the ocean is flat. This is one of those times where the consistency is just not there. The spot is “inconsistent” on the best of days, so this blank run is more normal for the area.

Now, there is a tiny blip on the 11th of August. A bit of ESE windswell shows up, pushing 2ft to 3ft, but the period is a short 4 seconds. That’s just bumpy, crumbly junk. The energy is still weak (13, 26). Not worth paddling out for.

Then, a real glimmer of hope. On the morning of the 12th of August, we finally see something. A 3ft swell from the ESE with a 5-second period. The energy jumps to 54, which is at least moderate. And the wind is glassy. That’s the first time we get a real chance. It’s not going to be epic, but it’s surfable. The swell direction is off from the preferred SSW, so it’ll be a bit wonky, but at least there’s something to push you around. That morning is the best we’ve seen all week.

After that, it’s back to small stuff. The 13th through the 16th sees a return to small cross-off surf, 0.7ft to 1ft, with moderate breezes. The energy drops back down to the teens and single digits. It’s clean, but nothing doing.

The 17th has a weird one. A long-period, 18-second swell from the south shows up in the morning but only at 0.3ft. Then in the afternoon, a 3ft SSW swell with a short 5-second period appears, pushing the energy to 58. But the wind is a cross-off moderate breeze, and it’s still got that short-period bump to it. It’s not great.

The 18th and 19th of August finally show a bit more life. The 18th has 2ft to 3ft from the WSW, with periods of 8 and 4 seconds. The energy climbs to 63 in the morning. Still not massive, but the most we’ve seen. The 19th offers a 2ft SW swell with a 10-second period and a gentle cross-off breeze, with energy at 53. That’s a slightly better shaped wave, but it’s not a standout.

So, what’s the call? The standout, and I use that term loosely, is the morning of the 12th of August. It’s the first real opportunity, with glassy conditions and a bit of size. It’s clean, but the swell direction is not ideal. The other one to keep an eye on is the afternoon of the 18th and the morning of the 19th, but those are long-range calls, so I wouldn’t bank on them. They’re promising, but less certain.

For the spot itself, Caerhays is a fairly exposed break, and it’s inconsistent. When it’s on, it can be fun, but this forecast is a real test of patience. If you’re a beginner, the 3ft on the 12th is right at your limit, but the short period might make it challenging. For the experts, there’s just not enough power here. Honestly, with the wind and the small, short-period swell, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. But hey, that’s the coast for you.

Keep an eye on the charts, something might change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty

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