Crantock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Grab a coffee, because we’ve got a long, quiet stretch ahead before things get interesting. The next 16 days are a real mixed bag, but the first week is a washout for surf.

We’re kicking off on Monday the 24th of August, and for the next week there’s basically nothing. From Monday the 24th right through to Sunday the 30th, the surf is tiny and messy. The only spot on the radar is Crantock, a river mouth break that’s fairly consistent, but the swell is pathetic – we’re talking 0.7 ft to 3 ft with weak energy. The winds are mostly cross-off or cross, which is clean, but there’s just no power in the water. Tuesday the 25th shows a tiny 2 ft to 2 ft swell from the west with a period around 10 seconds, but it’s still way too small to get excited about. The combined energy never cracks 100, so it’s flat out disappointing.

The situation improves slightly from Thursday the 27th, when the swell climbs to 6 ft, but the wind swings cross-on and it gets choppy. The energy jumps to 702, but it’s a messy, short-period wind swell with poor quality. Friday the 28th offers a 4 ft to 5 ft swell from the west-southwest, but the period is a shocking 6 to 8 seconds, and the cross-on wind ruins it. Through the weekend, winds stay strong (18 to 25 mph) from the west and southwest, and the surf is lumpy and cross-onshore. Not a single wave worth paddling for.

Then things get weird. On Monday the 31st of August, the swell jumps to 7 ft to 7 ft from the west, but it’s still cross-on and lumpy, with energy around 600. That’s too big for beginners, and the wind is nasty. By Tuesday the 1st of September, the wind goes straight onshore from the northwest, and the swell drops to 3 ft to 5 ft. It’s a mess.

The real action starts on Wednesday the 2nd of September. The morning is clean with a light cross-off wind from the south-southwest and a 4 ft swell from the west – but the period is only 6 seconds, so it’s weak (134 energy). Then the afternoon brings a big jump: 10 ft from the west-southwest with a period of 8 seconds and a massive 952 energy. The wind is cross-off, so it’s clean, but 10 ft is expert territory. That’s the first standout swell, but it’s a beast for the crew at Crantock. The river mouth setup might handle it, but it’s gonna be heavy.

Thursday the 3rd of September keeps the size: 10 ft from the west and west-northwest, with energy over 1200. But the wind is cross-shore and cross-on, so it’s choppy and lumpy. The combined energy is strong, but the quality is wrecked by the wind. Not your day unless you’re a kite surfer – this setup at a beach break looks more interesting for kiteboarding than paddle surfing.

The real gem is hiding on Sunday the 6th of September. The morning brings a 5 ft swell from the west with a very long period of 19 seconds – that’s groundswell energy, 1895 combined energy. The wind is onshore from the north-northwest at 12 mph, but that long period means the waves will have shape and power. It’s a bit onshore, but for a point or reef, this could be epic. The afternoon keeps it going with a 5 ft swell from the west, 17-second period, and 1586 energy. This is the standout. A long period swell like this tends to break straight at beach breaks, but at a river mouth or point, it’s gold. The crowds at Crantock are often around, so expect company.

By Monday the 7th of September, the swell drops to 5 ft to 5 ft from the west-northwest with a 14-second period, and the wind is light cross-shore. The energy is 1157, and the conditions are clean. It’s a “marginal” call, but with glassy winds and groundswell, that’s a solid session.

The standout session is clearly Sunday the 6th of September. The 5 ft, 19-second groundswell from the west is the best wave of the whole forecast. It’s clean enough, and the power is insane. The second best is Wednesday the 2nd of September afternoon, if you’re a big-wave charger – 10 ft, clean, but only for experts.

The water temperature? It’s bang on average for the time of year, no drama there.

So, crew: wait out the first week of flat, windy nothing. Get excited for the 6th of September. That’s your day.

Rusty.

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