Crantock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the cards for Crantock. Got a long 16-day window ahead, and I’ll be straight with you: the first week and a half is a tough watch. It’s not going to be pretty for a while.

We kick off on Friday the 24th of July, and there’s barely a ripple – we’re looking at a 0.3 ft swell from the SW, with a period of 13 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell but the size is pathetic, and with a 12 mph cross-onshore wind, it’s choppy and messy. Water temperature is sitting at 64 °F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need the thickest wetsuit.

From Saturday the 25th through to early August, it’s a real flat spell. Swells pop up to maybe 2 ft to 3 ft, but the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, and the period is short. There’s a bit of energy in the water on the 26th (Sunday) with a 7 ft swell and combined energy of 392, but that’s accompanied by a 22 mph onshore wind – not a day for a paddle board; that’s more kite-surfing territory with the size and wind combo. The 27th and 28th offer a glimmer of cleaner conditions, but the swell is tiny (2 ft to 3 ft) and inconsistent. The 28th Tuesday morning sees light offshore wind from the SSE, but the swell is only 2 ft from the west. Clean, sure, but not much to ride. From the 29th through to the 2nd of August, we’re in the doldrums: tiny swells (1.0 ft to 2 ft), short periods, and mostly onshore or cross winds. A real blank run for Crantock.

But there’s a flicker of hope around Monday the 3rd of August. We see the swell building to 4 ft in the morning from the WSW, period at 9 seconds, and a fresh offshore from the SE at 19 mph. That’s clean, proper offshore. The combined energy is 190, which is moderate. By the afternoon, the swell pushes to 5 ft, period stays at 9 seconds, and the offshore wind holds at 16 mph. The wave comment calls it “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and it scores a 1 – but that’s the only real positive in the whole run. That afternoon session on the 3rd is the standout of the entire outlook. Fresh offshore wind, clean faces, and a solid 5 ft from the WSW. For a river break that’s sheltered and fairly consistent, this is the window to paddle. Crantock is a beginner-friendly spot, and 5 ft is absolutely fine for that level. The swell direction (SW-WSW) does not match the optimum (W) perfectly, but it’s close enough and the wind makes up for it.

After that, Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th show some size (5 ft to 5 ft) and clean cross-off winds from the south, but it’s all of very poor quality – likely a jumbled mess. By the 6th and 7th, the wind swings westerly and onshore, and the size drops again. The last few days of the window (7th to 8th of August) are back to small, choppy slop. Not worth holding out for.

So the long and short of it: if you’re looking to get wet, aim for Monday the 3rd of August. That morning and afternoon window is the one. Everything else? A rest day.

Rusty out.

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