Crantock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a hard look at what’s on offer for Crantock over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a patchy run, and you’ll have to pick your moments.

The forecast starts with a real flat spell. From Friday the 21st all the way through to the morning of Wednesday the 26th of August, there’s just nothing worth paddling out for. The swell is tiny, the period is short, and the wind is mostly cross or onshore, making for chop and slop. It’s a frustrating stretch of small, weak surf with combined energy under 100 most of the time, so don’t bother.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on the morning of Thursday the 27th of August. We’ve got a 3ft swell from the W with a period of 8 seconds, and the wind is light from the SSW, giving us a clean, cross-off look. The combined energy is moderate at 148. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. Nothing to get excited about, but if you’re desperate for a paddle, it’s the first window.

Things get a bit more interesting from Wednesday the 2nd of September. The morning shows a solid 10ft swell from the W with a 9-second period, and the wind is a fresh offshore from the ESE, making for clean conditions. The combined energy is strong at 1397. This is a big swell – over 8ft – so it’s strictly for the experts. The afternoon sees it bump up to 12ft from the W with a 10-second period, combined energy of 2309. Same story: big, powerful, and only for those with serious skills and a bigger board. The wind stays offshore, so the faces will be clean, but it’s not a day for beginners.

The standout in this whole forecast is the afternoon of Wednesday the 2nd of September. The swell is 12ft (W) with a 10-second period, and the wind is a fresh offshore from the ESE. That’s proper groundswell energy, and the offshore wind will keep it clean. Water temperature is 65° which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The combined energy is a massive 2309, so you’ll feel the power. This is the one to aim for if you’ve got the experience. The rest of the first week of September is still bumpy and messy, with cross-shore and onshore winds ruining the quality of the 7ft+ swell.

After that, the swell stays chunky but the wind turns onshore again, so we’re back to choppy, lumpy conditions through the 4th and 5th. It’s a real shame because the size is there, but the wind just won’t cooperate.

Crowds at Crantock are often an issue, but with this forecast, I’d wager only the most dedicated will be out on the 2nd of September. The consistent, decent surf just isn’t here for long stretches, so when that Wednesday afternoon hits, grab it.

Rusty.

Read more