Carbis Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Carbis Bay over the next couple of weeks. To be straight with you, it’s a bit of a slow burner. The first week is pretty grim for a paddle, with only a couple of afternoons where things might just come together for a wave. The real standout sits later on, but we’ll get to that.

We’re starting off right now with a tiny, weak swell. Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th have tiny waves around 1ft to 2ft coming from the SW, but the wind is blowing cross-on at 9 to 22 mph, making it a messy, choppy affair. The combined energy is weak too, sitting between 45 and 135, so there’s just no grunt in the water. You’re better off doing something else.

Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th stay small, with the swell bumping up to a mere 2ft. The wind does shift cross-off on Wednesday, giving us a clean surface, but the energy is still low (86 at best). It’s surfable if you’re desperate for a splash on a foamie, but nothing to get excited about.

Now, Thursday the 27th of August is where it starts to get interesting. We see a jump in size to 6ft to 6ft from the SSW, with offshore wind. The combined energy hits 383 to 660, so there’s a moderate punch behind it. But the period is only 8 seconds, so it’s a windswell, not the cleanest shape. The wind is moderate offshore, so it’ll be clean, but the crowds are possible here for a peak that small.

Friday the 28th is the first real highlight. The swell drops just a touch to 5ft from the SW, but the wind goes light and cross-off, giving us clean conditions. The combined energy is a solid 328 in the morning, and it pushes up to 431 in the afternoon. The period hits 9 seconds, so there’s a bit more shape. This is the best bet of the week – clean, punchy little waves. It’s not giant, but it’s fun.

The weekend after that turns into a bit of a mess. Saturday the 29th sees 8ft swell from the west, but the wind is howling at 22 to 25 mph. The surface is clean, but it’s big and bumpy for this spot. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle. Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st drop back to smaller, weaker stuff.

Then we hit a bit of a lull. Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd of September are tiny and onshore again. Not worth talking about.

But then, Thursday the 3rd of September – this is the absolute standout. We’ve got 5ft from the west, with a 7-second period and combined energy of 319 in the morning, rising to 470 in the afternoon. The wind is light and cross-off, making it glassy and clean. This is a proper surfer’s window. The crowd factor is “sometimes” here, so you might have to share, but for a clean, 5ft day with light wind, it’ll be worth the company.

Friday the 4th of September stays similar, with 5ft and a better 9-second period, energy at 454 in the morning. The wind is still cross-off, but it picks up in the afternoon to a fresh breeze, which will start to ruffle it.

Saturday the 5th of September has the wind going offshore, with 5ft swell and a 9-second period. The energy is 317 in the morning, but the wind is fresh to strong, making it tough to paddle into. For the experienced locals, it’ll be clean but a battle.

Sunday the 6th of September pushes up to 8ft from the WSW, with a combined energy of 650 to 1119. That is proper heaving. But with a 7-second period, it’s going to be a bit of a washing machine. Only for the experts, and even then, it’s a chore.

Monday the 7th of September is a write-off with a near gale blowing cross-shore.

So, the best of the whole run? Friday the 28th of August for a clean, fun size, and Thursday the 3rd of September for a glassy, consistent day. Mark your calendar.

Rusty

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