Carbis Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Carbis Bay has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest, so let’s break it down.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a big pulse of south-west swell rolling in this weekend. We’re talking 10 ft to 12 ft of solid SW groundswell, but here’s the thing – that’s too much muscle for this little bay, especially for the beginners it’s known for. Saturday morning is a write-off with a risk of thunderstorms and a strong 25 mph WSW wind making it a tough paddle, but Saturday afternoon cleans up a bit with a cross-off breeze. Still, that 12 ft swell (2296 energy) is pushing expert-level territory, so if you’re a seasoned local and the tide lines up, it could be a wild one.

Sunday drops to a more manageable 7 ft to 8 ft with fresh offshore winds all day from the SW. That’s a lot more inviting, and the swell energy (577-804) is moderate but solid. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there. Monday sees the swell easing but still holding at 7 ft to 10 ft with cleaner cross-off breezes – decent for a paddle, but nothing to write home about.

Then we hit flat spell. From Tuesday the 1st of September through to Thursday the 3rd, it’s tiny – barely 4 ft and dropping to a pathetic 0.7 ft by Wednesday. The energy reading plummets to 25, which is weaker than a limp noodle. Don’t even bother; it’s a dead few days.

The best of the whole outlook? That’s Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th of September. Friday morning you’ve got 5 ft of clean, gentle offshore swell from the W (384 energy) – small but clean, perfect for a beginner to have a go. But the real standout is Saturday morning the 5th: 6 ft of W swell, 10-second period, and glassy conditions with only a 3 mph offshore breeze. That’s clean, lined-up, and the energy is a solid 670. For Carbis Bay, that’s about as good as it gets. The only catch? The crowd profile says “sometimes” busy, so a few other paddlers might have the same idea.

After that, it falls apart again. The second week is a write-off with onshore winds, lumpy conditions, and tiny waves. From Sunday the 6th onward the swell hangs around 5 ft to 7 ft but the wind turns ugly – cross-on and lumpy – making it a battle. By the 8th of September, we’re down to 3 ft with a messy cross-chop, and the energy is barely 179. It’s not worth waxing the board for the rest of the run.

So, bottom line: your best windows are the Saturday the 5th of September morning for the cleanest, most surfable waves, and the Sunday prior if you’re keen for a bigger, wind-affected session. If you’re a beginner, stick to Friday the 4th morning. After that, the bay goes quiet for days. Stay tuned, forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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