Carbis Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s have a look at the guidance and finder info for this region. Right off the bat, I’ve got to be straight with you – this is a tough stretch for surf. The entire 16-day window is riddled with poor conditions, and the standout moments are few and far between. We’re talking about a long run of onshore winds, lumpy seas, and only fleeting glimpses of clean surf. The only break on the radar is Carbis Bay, but it’s a real tale of waiting and hoping.

The water at Carbis Bay is sitting at 65°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – nothing radical, just a pleasant little anomaly.

The first real glimpse of anything decent doesn’t show up until Wednesday afternoon, August 12th. The wind swings cross-offshore from the SSE at 15 mph, and we get a clean 3 foot swell from the west at 9 seconds. The combined energy is weak (139), but it’s the only clean window in the first few days. Don’t get too excited – it’s surfable but very ordinary.

Then we hit a grim patch. From Thursday the 13th through to Monday the 19th, it’s a mess. Cross-on winds, choppy conditions, and a lot of nothing. The swell sticks around 2 feet to 4 feet, but the wind is mostly from the north or northwest, making a mess of things. The combined energy fluctuates between 57 and 319, but none of it is worth paddling out for.

Sunday the 18th and Monday the 19th see a brief shift with some offshore winds – Monday morning even has a 25 mph offshore from the WSW, but the swell is a pathetic 1 foot (13 energy). Tuesday morning the 19th shows a 5 foot WNW swell (217 energy) with a fresh offshore from the SW, but the period is only 6 seconds – short-period, windswell stuff. It’s clean, but weak and gutless.

Thursday the 20th brings a pulse of 7 foot WNW swell with a 9-second period and combined energy hitting 610 – that’s moderate energy. But the wind is howling from the NNW at 25 mph, cross-on, making it a total mess. If you’re a kite surfer, this might be your jam, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a no-go.

The final highlight comes on Thursday afternoon, August 27th. The wind is cross-offshore from the WNW at 9 mph, and we get a 4 foot west swell with a 10-second period and combined energy of 319. The setup is clean, with gentle breezes. This is the best of the lot – the only real standout in the whole outlook. It’s a long way off, so take it with a pinch of salt, but if you’ve got patience, that’s the one to pencil in.

Overall, this is a lean period. Carbis Bay is inconsistent, and the crowds are sometimes around. For the most part, you’re better off waiting for a change in the forecast. It’s a grim run, but it won’t stay this way forever.

Rusty

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