Surf Forecasts:
Eerste Steen surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 4,186 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Eerste Steen this week:
The surf forecast for Eerste Steen over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Eerste Steen in the next 16 days are 3.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Eerste Steen over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks.
It’s a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest. Some solid swell is coming through, but the wind is going to be fighting us most of the time. The best windows are tucked away at the end of the first week and into the second week.
We’re looking at Eerste Steen first. This break is fairly exposed to a SW swell. The water is about average for this time of year. Kicking off on Sunday the 30th of August, we’ve got a strong 8ft SW groundswell with a 12-second period, and the combined wave energy is pumping at 2112 (moderate to strong). The problem is a cross-shore SSE wind at 15 mph, which is going to mess it up a bit. It’s a tough surf. Monday the 31st drops to 7ft, still a decent SW swell, but the wind stays cross-shore. The morning is marginal, and the afternoon turns cross-on and choppy.
Tuesday the 1st of September brings a bigger pulse, 8ft to 10ft of SW groundswell with a longer 13-second period. Energy is strong (2031 to 2561). But again, the wind is cross-on, making it choppy and poor. Wednesday the 2nd holds the size at 10ft with a very long 14-second period, which is proper groundswell. The energy is very strong (3499). The wind is light cross-on in the morning, which is a bit better, but that’s a big swell – over 8ft, so experts only. The afternoon is cross-shore, still not perfect.
Thursday the 3rd is a total loss. The wind is a strong breeze at 28 mph, creating a messy cross-chop. The swell drops to 6ft but the conditions are ugly. Friday the 4th is cleaner, with a cross-offshore wind from the SE, but the swell has dropped to a modest 5ft to 5ft. The energy is low (827 to 924). It’s clean, but small.
Now for the good stuff. Saturday the 5th of September is still small, but the real window opens on Sunday the 6th of September. The morning brings a 5ft SW swell with a fantastic 14-second period, and the wind is a light cross-offshore from the north. The conditions are clean, and the surf is expected to be very good. The energy is moderate (801). This is a solid, clean option.
Monday the 7th is back to small and windy, but then Tuesday the 8th of September is another standout. The morning has a 5ft WSW swell with a 13-second period, light cross-offshore wind from the SE, and clean conditions. The surf is expected to be very good again. The energy is moderate (891). This is the best session of the whole forecast – clean, manageable size, and good swell direction.
From Wednesday the 9th, the swell drops right off, with only 4ft to 4ft on offer. The wind is light, but mostly cross-on, keeping the waves small and weak. There’s a pulse on Thursday the 10th with a 5ft to 6ft long-period WSW swell, but the wind is onshore, making it messy.
The end of the second week, around Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th of September, sees a big increase in swell again, with 7ft to 10ft of SW groundswell and strong energy (1900 to 2904). The wind is cross-shore, which is better than onshore, but it’s not ideal. The size will be too big for beginners, and the chop will be a challenge. By Sunday the 13th, the wind picks up again, ruining the quality.
So, to sum it up: the best surf on offer is the clean, glassy windows on Sunday the 6th and Tuesday the 8th of September. The swell is a manageable 5ft to 5ft from the SW, with a beautiful long period and light, clean winds. The rest of the forecast is either too small, too windy, or too big. It’s not a classic run, but those two mornings will be worth the wait.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | S 8 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
805 | 2101 | 1821 | 1158 | 1019 | 771 | 1237 | 2031 | 2561 | 4186 | 3499 | 3020 | 2154 | 980 | 659 | 448 | 626 | 493 | 368 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:16AM1.50m | 4:31PM1.63m | 4:48AM1.47m | 5:03PM1.59m | 5:23AM1.41m | 5:38PM1.52m | 6:02AM1.31m | 6:19PM1.41m | 6:49AM1.20m | 7:11PM1.27m | 7:57AM1.08m | 8:31PM1.15m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:14PM0.07m | 10:18AM0.07m | 10:45PM0.07m | 10:48AM0.11m | 11:18PM0.11m | 11:22AM0.18m | 11:55PM0.19m | 11:59AM0.28m | 00:39AM0.29m | 12:46PM0.40m | 1:38AM0.41m | 1:56PM0.53m | 3:14AM0.50m | ||||||
— | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
6:24 | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 15 |
Feels °C | 10 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 |
702 | 2101 | 1821 | 1158 | 1019 | 771 | 1237 | 2031 | 2561 | 4186 | 3499 | 3020 | 2154 | 980 | 655 | 368 | 626 | 493 | 368 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | — | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
805 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 53 | — | 18 | 18 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 5 | — | S 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 5 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | SSE 7 |
— | 11 | 9 | 65 | — | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 90 | 482 | 659 | 448 | 298 | 316 | 276 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 72 | 72 | 341 | 52 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 41 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 456 | 665 | 1027 | 1224 | 2801 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Eerste Steen Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Eerste Steen provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Eerste Steen can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Eerste Steen surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Eerste Steen) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Eerste Steen may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Eerste Steen is 8 km (5 miles) from the very large city of Robben Island. If you plan a holiday in Cape Town, look for hotels and other accommodation in Robben Island. Robben Island has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as cheap car hire and transport links.











