Caves (Sandsend) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Caves (Sandsend). I’ve gotta be straight with you – it’s a pretty grim outlook for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’re looking at a long stretch of nothing. The first surfable conditions don't show up until Thursday morning, the 23rd of July. That’s a few days of flat, poor conditions to sit through. The forecast shows a weak, short-period swell from the NNE, about 4ft, with a period of just 7 seconds. The combined swell energy is weak at 105. The water temperature is sitting at 60°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The saving grace for that Thursday morning is the glassy wind, which will make the surface clean even if the waves are small and ordinary. That’s the only real window in the first week, and it’s only a 1 out of 10 on the quality scale.

The best, and really the only standout, is that Thursday morning (23rd July) at Caves (Sandsend). It’s a point break, fairly exposed to the north swell, and the optimum swell direction is from the north. The wind is glassy, which is a huge positive for clean conditions. The swell is small, at 4ft, and the period is a short 7 seconds, so it won’t have much punch. The break is inconsistent, so you’ll be waiting a while between sets. It’s an intermediate wave, so beginners might find it a bit tricky. You might have some company too, as crowds are listed as "sometimes."

After that, the surf drops off again. The rest of the week and into the next is a mix of onshore winds and tiny, weak swells. There is a couple of days of offshore winds around the 25th and 27th of July, but the swell is only 0.6ft to 3ft, with combined energy as low as 5. It’s basically flat. The wind is clean, but there’s nothing to ride.

Looking further out, into the first week of August, the wind gets stronger and more onshore. The swell stays small and messy. It’s not looking good for a paddle. The setup at Caves, being a point, might be more interesting for the kite surfers if the wind picks up proper, but for a surfboard, it’s a no-go.

So, bottom line: if you’re desperate, you might get a few clean but ordinary waves on the 23rd. Otherwise, the rest of the 16-day window is a write-off. Forecasts can change, but for now, it’s a long wait.

Rusty.

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