Caves (Sandsend) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s happening at Caves (Sandsend) for the next couple of weeks. I gotta be honest with you, the start of this run is a tough one. We’re looking at a whole lot of flat, clean water with hardly any push for the first week. The combined energy is barely a whisper, often under 100, and most days are a scratch for a paddle, let alone a ride. The water temp is sitting right where it should be for this time of year, so no surprises there, but that’s about the only positive.

From Wednesday the 2nd right through to Tuesday the 10th of September, it’s a waiting game. Winds are often offshore, which is a tease, but the swell is just too small – mostly floating around 0.3ft to 2ft. The only real movement comes on Saturday the 5th afternoon when a little bump of 4ft from the NNW shows up, but it’s short period (7 seconds) and the conditions are only described as “ordinary.” It’s not worth burning the petrol for.

Now, hold onto your board. The first real glimmer of hope lands on Thursday the 10th of September in the afternoon. We finally get a pulse of decent swell: 7ft from the NNW, with a combined energy of 385 (moderate). That’s a proper size, but it’s coming with a short period of 7 seconds, so it’s gonna be a bit fat and lumpy on the takeoff – more of a grunt than a glide. The wind is offshore from the west, which is a major win for cleanliness, but at this size, it’s pushing into expert territory. Beginners, sit this one out. The break itself is a point, which is a good thing for a short-period swell like this, as it’ll help line the waves up a bit. Crowds are “sometimes” an issue here, so you might have some company for the few set waves that roll through.

Moving into the second week, the best bet looks like Sunday the 13th of September. The morning session is calling with a clean 4ft from the north, combined energy of 268 (moderate), and a gentle offshore breeze from the NNW. That’s a solid, intermediate-friendly wave with good shape. It’s still a bit short period (9 seconds), but the wind and small crowd potential make it the standout of the whole forecast. The afternoon on the 13th gets messy with a cross-onshore breeze, so get your waves early.

The rest of the second week drops off again into the small stuff, so don’t sleep on that Sunday 13th. It’s the pick of a pretty average bunch. Keep your eyes on the horizon, but for now, we take what we can get.

Rusty.

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