Crantock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for our local stretch.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: it’s a pretty grim outlook for the next couple of weeks. We’re looking at a solid 16-day window, but the surf is barely worth a mention for most of it. The first real chance to get wet doesn’t pop up until the 12th, and even then, it’s a struggle. Let’s break it down.

We kick off on Crantock (river) on Wednesday morning, the 12th of August. There’s a small 3 ft swell rolling in from the west, with a period of 10 seconds, giving us a combined energy of 125. The wind is a cross-off from the ESE at 9 mph, which is keeping things clean, but the report says it’s “poor surf conditions.” It’s a beginner-friendly spot, but the waves are just too weak and messy to get excited about. The water temp is about average for this time of year. This is a “stay on the beach and watch” kind of day.

Thursday the 13th sees a bit more size, with a 4 ft west swell, but the wind turns onshore and the period drops. The combined energy jumps to 267, but it’s choppy and blown out. Not worth the paddle.

The rest of the first week and into the second is a washout. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-on, the swell is small or short-period, and the scores are all zeros. We’ve got a long gap from the 12th all the way through to the 22nd of August without a single surfable recommendation. That’s a solid ten days of flat or messy conditions.

The only glimmer of hope comes on the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd of August. On Saturday the 22nd, the afternoon shows a 5 ft swell from the WSW, but it’s a short 7-second period and the wind is onshore, gusting to 9 mph. The combined energy is 229, but it looks like a bumpy mess. Then Sunday the 23rd has a morning pulse of 6 ft from the west, with combined energy of 432, but again, the wind is cross-on and the period is short at 8 seconds. It’s going to be a choppy, lumpy affair.

For the true experts out there, keep an eye on the 27th of August, Thursday morning. The forecast shows a 10 ft west swell with a 10-second period and a combined energy of 1520. That’s a lot of water moving, but the wind is a fresh cross-on from the WSW, so it’ll be a battle. At that size, it’s experts only, and the conditions will be gnarly.

Honestly, for the next week, this setup is more interesting for kite-surfing than paddle surfing. The wind is strong and consistent, but the wave quality is just not there for a surfer. Keep your eyes on the forecasts for the end of the month, but for now, don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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