Carbis Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what the next couple of weeks are serving up for Carbis Bay. The overall picture is a bit of a mixed bag, with a few decent windows but plenty of flat spells and chopped-up days in between. We’re starting with small, clean waves, so get in early if you can.

We kick off Tuesday, September 1st. Morning’s looking surfable with a gentle little 4ft swell pushing in from the west with a 9-second period. Winds are light offshore from the WSW, which is keeping it clean. Combined energy is around 203 – nothing to write home about, but it’s rideable. The afternoon stays similar, but the wind picks up a bit, so the morning is your better bet.

Wednesday the 2nd, a bit of a letdown. The morning has a bumpy 4ft swell with a short 6-second period, a fresh offshore wind from the SSW making it clean but the waves are just too weak and messy. The afternoon sees the swell jump to 6ft, but it’s wind-affected and the period is still short (7 seconds) – not a classic, though the energy reading hits 427.

Now, Thursday the 3rd shows a glimmer. Morning brings a solid 5ft swell at 7 seconds, moderate offshore breezes, and a combined energy of 295. It’s clean and surfable for the intermediate crew. The water temperature is about average for the time of year. Friday the 4th starts okay but by the afternoon the wind swings cross-shore, turning it into a mess.

Then, the standout of the first week hits on Saturday morning, September 5th. This is your call. We’ve got a 4ft west swell with a nice 10-second period, and the wind is glassy from the ENE – dead calm. The conditions will be perfect. The combined energy is 297, which is moderate but with that glassy surface, the wave quality will be far better than the number suggests. It’s a beginner-friendly size, so everyone can have a go. Crowds could be a factor though – it’s ‘sometimes’ busy, but for a Saturday with glass, you bet people will be out.

After Saturday, we hit a flat patch. Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th start off poor, but keep an eye on Monday afternoon. The swell builds to 6ft from the west with a longer 11-second period and the combined energy jumps to 682. The wind is cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean, but it’s not a classic given the direction. By Tuesday the 8th morning, it’s flat, but Tuesday afternoon brings a 8ft west swell with a 9-second period and a massive combined energy of 1083. That’s expert territory – only for the brave, but the wind is moderate offshore, so it’ll be clean and powerful. A gap of about 3 days of poor or flat surf separates this from the next good window.

Looking further ahead, Wednesday the 9th has a 8ft WNW swell but 40 km/h winds ruin it. After another dry spell, the next real highlight is Friday morning, September 11th. We get a 7ft west swell with 9-second period, glassy conditions from the NW, and a combined energy of 743. The water temp is still average for the time of year. This is a solid day for experienced surfers, but that size is still well into expert territory for most. It’s a bit of a shame the afternoon gets chopped up.

The final week – from Saturday the 12th onward – is pretty much a write-off. Cross-onshore winds and small, weak swells dominate until the 14th, when a 4ft groundswell from the west with a very long 12-second period shows up. But it’s onshore and chopped. Long-period west swells like that need a point or reef to wrap around – on a beach break like Carbis Bay, they’ll just close out. The 15th and 16th are the same story: cross-onshore wind and small, unattractive surf.

So, if you’re picking your window: Saturday morning, September 5th is the true gem – small, glassy, and clean. For the bigger wave crew, Tuesday afternoon, September 8th or Friday morning, September 11th are your power days, but only if you’re comfortable with head-high plus and a bit of crowd.

Stay stoked,
Rusty

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