East Pier (Port Alfred) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming our way for the next couple of weeks.

First up, if you’re looking at the water right now, don’t bother. The start of this run is a total write-off. We’re looking at a solid stretch of poor conditions with strong, onshore winds and lumpy, blown-out surf through Wednesday, the 26th, and all the way through Thursday, the 27th. The swell is there, but it’s a messy 12 ft from the south with 17-second period, packing a massive energy (6078), but it’s completely unsurfable. That’s a hard pass for paddling and more of a kite-surfing setup if you’re into that.

Things start to look up on Friday morning, the 28th of August. That’s where we get our first real window. The swell drops to a much more manageable 4 ft from the south, period sits at 12 seconds, and the wind swings light offshore from the WNW at only 6 mph. That’s clean, glassy conditions, and the energy is moderate (613). East Pier (Port Alfred) will have some nice, clean lines. It’s inconsistent here, so be patient, but when a set comes through, it’ll be worth it. The water is sitting at 65°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so a good wetsuit is still on the cards.

Saturday morning, the 29th, keeps the clean theme going with a smaller 3 ft south swell, 11-second period, and light cross-offshore winds. The energy is dropping (295), so it’s going to be small and a bit weaker, but still rideable on a log or a fish. After that, we hit a rough patch again. Sunday, the 30th, sees a jump in swell to 10 ft from the SW with a short, weak 7-second period, and howling 28 mph winds. That’s a no-go, despite the energy (901) being moderate. The afternoon actually gets a decent score for wind and tide, but the swell is way too big for this break, so still a miss for most.

Now, Monday morning, the 31st of August, is a real gem. We’ve got a 4 ft SW swell, 12-second period, and the wind is dead calm – glassy as it gets. Energy is moderate (489). That’s a window for some clean, fun waves, especially if you’re an intermediate surfer. The crowd factor is "sometimes," so you might have a few others out, but it should be a good session.

From there, the forecast gets messy again. Tuesday, the 1st of September, through the rest of the week, we see a lot of cross-onshore winds and lumpy conditions, with some bigger swells mixed in. The standout in the second week is actually Monday morning, the 7th of September. We’ve got a 4 ft SSW swell, 14-second period, with light offshore winds from the SW at only 3 mph. Energy is moderate (699) and the conditions are clean. That’s a promising call, but it’s a way out, so keep an eye on it.

The real highlight, the best on offer across the whole period, is without a doubt Friday morning, the 28th of August. 4 ft south swell, 12-second period, light offshore winds, and clean lines. That’s the one to circle. The other standout is Monday morning, the 31st of August, for the glassy conditions.

Overall, it’s a mixed bag. We’ve got a few sweet windows, but plenty of wind and swell to paddle through. Stay patient, and grab those windows when they come.

Rusty.

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