Crantock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – this 16-day window for Crantock is a tough one. The forecast is basically a long, quiet stretch with very little to get excited about. There’s a gap of no real surf recommendations for the first four days, and honestly, the whole period is dominated by small, weak swell and poor conditions. Let’s break it down.

We kick off on Saturday, 8 August, with a tiny 1ft swell from the west, and a 9-second period. The wind is offshore from the southeast, which is a positive, keeping the surface clean, but the combined energy is a meagre 19 – that’s weak. The water temp is 65°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Still, it’s poor surf, and there’s nothing to ride.

Sunday, 9 August, is even worse. The swell drops to 0.7ft and the wind swings onshore from the north-northwest. The energy is just 15. It’s a no-go.

Monday, 10 August, sees a tiny 1ft swell from the west-northwest, but the wind is cross-onshore from the north, making it choppy. Energy is up to 39, but that’s still weak. The surf is poor.

Tuesday, 11 August, brings offshore wind from the east-southeast, which is clean, but the swell is only 1ft and the period is a short 8 seconds. Combined energy is 29. It’s a clean, flat day.

On Wednesday, 12 August, we finally see a bit of a pulse. The swell bumps up to 3ft from the west with a 10-second period, and the wind is offshore from the southeast. The combined energy hits 125, which is moderate. The afternoon sees a bit of cross-offshore wind, and the conditions are described as “surfable but very ordinary.” It’s the best of a bad bunch, but it’s nothing to write home about. This is a river break, so it’s sheltered, and the west swell is okay, but it’s still small.

Thursday, 13 August, the swell picks up to 4ft from the west with an 11-second period, which is a nice groundswell. The combined energy is a solid 317, moderate. But the wind is onshore from the northwest, ruining it. The surf is poor.

The next several days are a mix of small, messy swell and onshore or cross-onshore winds. The energy climbs on Wednesday, 19 August, when a 7ft west-northwest swell hits with a 7-second period, giving a combined energy of 454. That’s strong, but the period is short, and the wind is onshore. It’s a washing machine. Thursday, 20 August, sees an 8ft swell from the west-northwest with a 9-second period. The combined energy is a massive 942, which is very strong. But the wind is cross-onshore from the west, making it messy and choppy. This is kite-surfing territory, not for paddling. The swell is over 8ft, so it’s expert-only anyway, and with that wind, it’s not a good wave.

The rest of the month trails off into small, weak swell with cross-shore winds. The energy drops back below 100.

Honestly, there’s no standout here. The closest we get to a wave is Wednesday, 12 August, with that small, clean, but ordinary swell. If you’re desperate, that’s your window. For the rest, it’s a long, blank run. That’s the way it goes sometimes. Crantock is a beginner-friendly river break, but it needs a decent swell and clean wind to work. We’re not getting either. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because it tends not to stay poor for long.

Rusty.

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