Eastbourne Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a proper look at what’s on the table.

Honestly, the whole 16-day window is a write-off for decent waves around Eastbourne. It’s a sheltered setup and we’re paying for it big time. There’s nothing worth paddling out for at any point. The swell stays tiny or non-existent, and when it does try to push a little, the wind or period ruins it. You’re looking at a near-blank fortnight.

We start Friday morning August 28 with a weak 0.3ft SW swell (2 energy) and a light offshore breeze, but it's just too small to ride. That sets the tone. Saturday August 29 picks up a bit with a 4ft SW swell in the morning, but it’s short-period at 5 seconds and cross-shore winds make it lumpy. By the afternoon that swell jumps to 7ft (384 energy) but it’s still messy cross-shore and period is only 6 seconds – all power, no shape. Not a surfer’s wave. The water temp is running much warmer than normal for the time of year at 70°, if that’s any consolation.

Sunday August 30 morning is the only half-decent look: 5ft SW swell (158 energy) with 7-second period and a cross-offshore breeze, so it’d be clean. But that’s still a poor wave at a beginner break that’s inconsistent. Consistent crowds are possible here too, so a clean 5ft is going to be frustratingly small and crowded rather than fun.

The rest of the first week sees small, short-period junk. Monday August 31 bumps up to a 7ft WSW swell (406 energy), again clean with offshore wind, but at only 7 seconds period and hitting a sheltered spot, that’s going to close out fast and be pretty intimidating for less experienced surfers. After that, it’s back to knee-high dribble or flat spells until Thursday September 3, when we see 6ft SW (332 energy) in the morning, rising to 8ft (505 energy) by the afternoon. Still only 7-second period and cross-offshore winds – expert territory at that size, but messy and straight.

The second week is the real killer. From Friday September 4 onwards, it’s mostly below 3ft, with long gaps of flat days from September 7 through to the 10th. There’s a tiny 0.3ft pulse on September 12 with a very long 17-second period from the SW (11 energy), but it’s accompanied by near gale-force winds. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than anything you’d want to paddle into. The water temp anomaly info only covers the first entry and from there it’s not supplied, so all I can say is the ocean felt much warmer than usual at the start.

No standouts. No hidden gems. This is just a long, quiet spell for Eastbourne. Forecasts can change, but right now, leave the board at home.

- Rusty

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