Cayton Bay Bunkers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Howdy, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you. Looking at the 16-day window for our little stretch of coast, we’ve got a long, dry spell ahead. Truth is, the waves are going to be a struggle for the first week and a half. There are some glimmers of hope right at the tail end of the period, but for the most part, you’re going to be waiting. The water temp is sitting at about 61°, which is normal for this time of year, so at least you won't be freezing while you're staring at flat water.

Alright, let's get into the nitty-gritty. From Wednesday the 29th of July all the way through to the morning of Monday the 10th of August, it’s pretty grim. The swell is tiny, mostly under 2 ft, and what little energy is there is weak—the combined energy sits anywhere from 6 to 27 (weak). Even when there's a little bump, the wind is all wrong. For example, the afternoon of the 3rd of August sees a long-period 3 ft groundswell from the North with a period of 12 seconds and a combined energy of 205 (moderate), which would usually be interesting, but we get a fresh 19 mph cross-onshore wind, making it a choppy mess. The 4th of August brings a similar story with a 3 ft swell, but 19 mph onshore winds from the ENE ruin it. The conditions get a bit cleaner on the 11th of August. Tuesday morning the 11th of August is the first time we see "surfable waves" with a 4 ft swell from the NNE and a light 6 mph WSW wind keeping it clean. The combined energy is 138 (moderate), so it’s not nothing, but it’s still very ordinary.

Now, the real interest picks up on Sunday the 9th and Monday the 10th of August, but even that is a tease. The afternoon of the 9th sees a 7 ft swell from the North with an 8-second period, and a combined energy of 536 (strong to very strong). That’s a lot of water moving around, but it’s a short-period swell hitting a beach/sandbar setup with a cross-shore wind. That’s going to be a wild, washing-machine mess. Honestly, that setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than for paddle surfing.

If you’re absolutely dying for a wave, your best bet is the morning of Tuesday the 11th of August at Cayton Bay Bunkers. It’s not a standout by any stretch, but it’s the best of a bad bunch. You're looking at a 4 ft swell from the NNE, with a light offshore breeze from the WSW. It'll be clean, and it won't be too big, so it’s manageable. The combined energy is 138 (moderate), meaning there's some push. Just keep your expectations in check. Crowds are likely here. Later on, Wednesday the 12th of August afternoon sees a small 3 ft swell go glassy with no wind at all—clean as a whistle, though the energy is low (84 – weak). That’s a long shot for a tiny, clean wave.

Honestly, this is a tough run. For a spot that’s fairly consistent, it's an unusually long blank stretch. Forecasts can change, but for now, I’d save your energy. Hope you’ve got a backup hobby.

Rusty

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