
Surf Forecasts:
Eerste Steen surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period, SW swell with 2,241 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Eerste Steen in the next 16 days are 2.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Eerste Steen over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right. Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with you. The first couple of days are a no-go – Wednesday morning is a dud. We’re looking at a real mixed bag over this 16-day stretch, but there are a couple of mornings that are worth getting excited about.
We start proper on Thursday, September 3rd. Thursday morning is clean. Eerste Steen is seeing a 6ft WSW swell, period at 13 seconds – that’s some proper groundswell with decent energy (1114 in the water). The wind is a light SE cross-off, 6 mph, which will leave the faces looking like glass. This is a solid intermediate option. The water is sitting at 55°, which is *much* colder than normal for this time of year (a -5° anomaly), so you’ll want the thick suit.
Friday the 4th is a no-go. The wind is howling, even if it is cross-off. Saturday the 5th is marginal, with a dropping, short-period swell. You’re better off waiting.
Then we get the standout of the entire outlook. Sunday morning, September 6th. This is the one. Eerste Steen has a 6ft SW swell, but the period is an incredible 18 seconds. That’s very long-period groundswell, packed with energy (2215). For a beach break, a period that long can make things a bit too straight and difficult, but here, with the right sandbank, it’s going to produce some beautiful, lined-up walls. The wind is light and easterly at 6 mph – dead offshore. It’s going to be clean as a whistle. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. Get on it.
Sunday afternoon gets a bit messy with a cross-on shore. Monday the 7th is average. Tuesday the 8th is small and fading. The 9th is a write-off.
Keep an eye on Thursday morning, September 10th. A 5ft WSW swell at 11 seconds, with the wind swinging light SE cross-off at 6 mph again. Clean conditions and a solid, workable wave.
Friday morning, September 11th is a similar story: a 5ft WSW at 12 seconds with that same light SE wind. Clean again.
After that, the second week gets pretty bleak. There’s a lot of wind from the wrong directions and onshore slop. The swell sticks around but the quality drops right off. A few marginal windows on the 14th morning and 17th morning, but nothing that screams “go.” The energy levels are there, but the wind isn’t cooperating. For a fairly consistent spot like this, it’s a frustrating run of afternoons getting chewed up.
Don’t waste your time on the windy days; the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on those afternoon sessions.
The real tip is clear: Sunday the 6th is the morning. Be there.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, strong winds from the SSE by Thu afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | ||||||||||||||
PM | 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) | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | S 9 | SSE 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SW 21 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
2528 | 1573 | 949 | 1645 | 1393 | 866 | 1091 | 561 | 638 | 201 | 1103 | 2065 | 1350 | 1059 | 1138 | 991 | 353 | 280 | 154 | 183 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:19PM1.41m | 6:49AM1.20m | 7:11PM1.27m | 7:57AM1.08m | 8:31PM1.15m | 9:47AM1.03m | 10:28PM1.12m | 11:37AM1.12m | 00:03AM1.20m | 12:46PM1.27m | 1:05AM1.32m | 1:34PM1.43m | 1:53AM1.44m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:39AM0.29m | 12:46PM0.40m | 1:38AM0.41m | 1:56PM0.53m | 3:14AM0.50m | 3:58PM0.59m | 5:14AM0.47m | 5:54PM0.50m | 6:31AM0.35m | 7:02PM0.34m | 7:23AM0.22m | 7:50PM0.20m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | |
6:28 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 26 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 18 | 14 | 19 | 25 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | S 9 | SSW 10 | SSE 9 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 11 |
2528 | 1573 | 949 | 419 | 242 | 140 | 93 | 66 | 495 | 160 | 295 | 2065 | 1350 | 1059 | 1138 | 991 | 353 | 280 | 119 | 151 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 10 | S 9 | W 14 | — | — | SW 14 | SSW 13 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | SW 21 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SW 21 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 |
— | 115 | 165 | 100 | — | — | 7 | 34 | 58 | 40 | 1103 | 150 | 88 | 36 | 11 | 17 | 334 | 150 | 140 | 183 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 24 | SW 10 | — | — | — | SSE 14 | SW 20 | NW 5 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | S 10 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 58 | 25 | — | — | — | 20 | 16 | 7 | 103 | 154 | 29 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 9 | SSE 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | NNW 4 | NW 4 | — | NNW 5 | — | — |
— | — | — | 1645 | 1393 | 866 | 1091 | 561 | 638 | 201 | 538 | — | — | — | 12 | 14 | — | 10 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 931 | 1274 | 1436 | 3874 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 39 | 31 | 0 | 31 | 31 | 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.










