East Pier (Port Alfred) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a proper look at the next 16 days. The only spot on the radar is East Pier (Port Alfred). It’s an exposed beach and pier setup, and it’s inconsistent, so it needs the right windows to come together. For the first few days, it’s a bit of a slow burner, but there are some moments that could be worth a paddle.

We’re starting from Sunday, 12 July. The swell is there, 6 ft from the SSW with a 12-second period, but the wind is a cross-on ENE breeze at 9 mph, making things fairly choppy. The combined energy is 1173 (moderate), but the conditions are marginal. It’s not a write-off, but don’t get your hopes up. By the afternoon, the wind picks up and the surf goes poor.

Monday, 13 July, is where it gets interesting. The morning brings a glassy, calm start with a WNW offshore breeze at just 3 mph. Swell drops to 4 ft, still from the SSW, with a period of 11 seconds. The energy is 302 (moderate), and it’s clean. This is a solid window for intermediate surfers—small but clean, and the pier can help shape it up. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.

Tuesday, 14 July, the glassy conditions continue in the morning with a total calm, but the swell is only 3 ft from the SSW. Energy is down to 111 (weak). It’s surfable but very ordinary. The afternoon stays glassy but small.

From Wednesday, 15 July, through to Thursday, 16 July, the swell rebuilds. Thursday morning sees a 6 ft SSW swell with a 14-second period, energy up to 1559 (moderate to strong). The wind is a light cross-shore from the NE at 6 mph, so there’s a little crossing wind ripple. It’s marginal, but a long-period groundswell like this can work well at a pier—better shape, longer gaps between sets. The afternoon is similar, 7 ft, but with a cross-on wind.

Now, Friday, 17 July, is a proper standout but it’s not for everyone. The morning sees a 13 ft swell from the SW, 11-second period, with a strong cross-offshore wind from the WSW at 22 mph. The energy is massive at 3554 (strong). This is for experienced surfers only—too big for beginners. The wind keeps it clean, but the size is serious. The afternoon is still big at 12 ft, but the wind shifts cross-shore.

Saturday, 18 July, the wind turns onshore from the east at 16–22 mph, and the swell is still 10 ft to 8 ft. It’s lumpy and choppy. For paddle surfing, this is a skip. If you’re into kite surfing, the setup might be more interesting.

Sunday, 19 July, drops back to 5 ft from the S, with a cross-shore wind. The energy is 977 (moderate), but the conditions are still marginal. It’s not great.

From Monday, 20 July, through to Wednesday, 22 July, the swell stays small and the wind is strong offshore or cross-off, but the wave heights are too small to get excited about—2 ft to 3 ft. The energy is weak. It’s clean, but flat.

Thursday, 23 July, the swell jumps back up to 8 ft from the SSW with a long 17-second period, but the wind is a cross-on easterly at 16 mph, making it choppy. Poor conditions.

Now, Friday, 24 July, is the real standout. The morning brings a 8 ft SSW swell, 15-second period, with a light offshore wind from the north at 9 mph. The energy is 3328 (strong). The forecast says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is a long-period groundswell, perfect for a pier—solid, clean, powerful sets. The crowds are possible, but the quality justifies it. This is the best on offer.

Saturday, 25 July, is another big one, but it might be too big for the break. The swell is 10 ft from the SSW with a 13-second period, and the wind is offshore. The energy is 2726 (strong). It’s clean, but only for the brave.

The last few days, from Sunday, 26 July, to Monday, 27 July, the swell drops back to 8 ft to 6 ft, but the wind is strong offshore or cross-on. The conditions are marginal, and the wind is howling on Sunday morning—31 mph offshore—making it very hard to paddle out.

Overall, the best windows are Monday, 13 July morning for a clean, smaller session, and Friday, 24 July morning for the standout—big, clean, powerful groundswell. The rest is either too small, too windy, or too big. Keep an eye on that 24 July.

Rusty.

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