Caerhays Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks at Caerhays.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. For the entire first week, from Saturday the 4th right through to Friday the 11th of July, it's pretty grim. We're looking at tiny, weak waves, mostly around 0.3ft to 0.7ft with short-period windswell. The energy is just a whisper, never getting above 12 (that's the combined swell energy). Winds are a mixed bag, some clean moments with light offshore or glass, but the swell just isn't there to back it up. A few mornings on Monday the 6th and Tuesday the 7th have glassy conditions with a tiny 0.3ft swell – more of a bath than a surf.

The water temperature at Caerhays is worth noting, though. It's sitting at 64°F, which is a whopping 4°F warmer than average for this time of year – that's "much warmer than normal" and a real treat if you happen to be out there.

We then hit a real dead zone from the 11th through the 17th. The swell does try to push up a bit on the 12th and 13th, with 3ft to 3ft showing, but the wind is cross to cross-onshore and strong – 19 to 25 mph – making it choppy and messy. The energy jumps to 91 on the 13th, but that's all wind-chop. Not for paddling, if you ask me.

Now, hold onto your board, because things finally look up on Sunday the 19th of July. We get a bit of a late bloomer. The morning shows a 4ft swell from the ESE with a 8-second period and a combined energy of 178 – that's moderate energy finally. The wind is a light 6 mph cross-shore, which should keep the surface clean. Then by the afternoon, it builds a touch more to 5ft from the SSW at a 7-second period, with energy hitting 253. Wind goes to a moderate 12 mph from the west, still cross-shore, so it should stay ridable.

This is the standout of the forecast, but it's not perfect. The swell period is short (7-8 seconds), so the waves will be a bit crumbly and close together. However, for Caerhays – a spot that's "inconsistent" and "fairly exposed" with an optimum direction from the SSW – this is the best window. The groundswell direction is on the money. The crowds can pop up "sometimes" here, and with the best surf in weeks, I'd expect a few locals out. It's definitely not for beginners, as it's pushing over 3ft, but for the rest of us, this Sunday the 19th is the only real chance to get a wave. It's a long-range call, so keep an eye on it.

After that, the 20th looks similar but with slightly less size. All in all, a long wait for a short window. Keep your hopes up – forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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