Crackington Haven Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty tough for a proper surf at Crackington Haven. We’ve got a long, bleak stretch ahead with barely anything worth paddling out for, so let’s talk about the reality of the situation.

First things first, the water is sitting at about 64.8°, which is a solid 3.9° warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s a nice little bonus if you do get out, feels like a late-summer treat, but it’s about the only positive for a while. The surf itself is just not showing up. We’re looking at a gap of a solid week, from now through the 18th of September, where there’s simply nothing on offer. It’s all poor surf conditions, with messy winds and weak, short-period swell. The energy is just pathetic, mostly under 200, with a couple of pulses of moderate energy but they’re all wrapped in choppy, cross-shore junk. Not worth your time.

Now, the first real glimmer of hope arrives on the morning of Saturday the 19th. The swell is still pretty average, around 3.3ft, but we get a clean offshore breeze from the southeast. Finally, some clean surf, even if it’s just “surfable but very ordinary” - which is code for small and a bit gutless. The energy is still weak (144), but it’s the first time the conditions will feel like you’re actually surfing, not just fighting the elements. The size is tiny and it’s a pretty exposed beach setup, so it won’t be any kind of classic, but it’s a start.

Here’s the standout. Sunday the 20th looks like our best shot in this entire forecast period. The morning and afternoon both have that clean, moderate offshore wind from the ESE and SE, and the swell has a bit more backbone. We’re looking at around 3.6ft from the west with a 10-second period. The energy is still moderate, but the highest we’ve seen in a while at 238-244. The direction is pretty much spot on for the WNW optimum for the break, and the wind will keep it glassy. It’s not going to be big, but it will be clean, and on a beach break like this, that clean, fun-sized wave is what you want. It could be a bit inconsistent, but if you’re frothing, this is the day to get the shortboard out. We might also get some texture on the 21st with a light cross-off, but the swell is fading fast to under 3.3ft, so it’s really just a shoulder-hop kind of day.

After that, the ocean just switches off again. From the 22nd through the 26th, it’s all back to poor surf. There’s a lot of wind and some bigger-looking long-period swells, but they’re either crossing up the break or just mushy. There’s a day on the 23rd with 3ft and a 13-second period, but it’s coming with a near gale from the SSE, so the surface will be a mess. On Friday the 25th, we see a bit of size and a clean cross-off wind, but it’s all behind some strong, showery, and stormy conditions. It’s not going to be clean.

Honestly, for the next two weeks, the 20th is the one. It’s not a monster, but it’s the only day where everything lines up for a decent, clean session. The rest of the time, you’re better off checking the wind forecast on your phone and doing something else. The setup looks more interesting for the kite surfers than us paddle surfers for most of this run.

Stay hopeful, keep the board waxed, and let’s see if the forecasts change. But as it stands, Sunday the 20th is your day.

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