
Surf Forecasts:
Eerste Steen surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, WSW swell with 3,987 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 14s 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 1.5m and 7s is also forecast. 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 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 7s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Eerste Steen over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming up at our local spot, Eerste Steen.
The first week looks rough, with a lot of lumpy, windy days that are more frustrating than fun. The water is sitting at 58°F, which is a bit colder than we usually see this time of year—nothing crazy, but you’ll feel it.
Friday the 11th is a write-off. Messy cross-shore wind at 12 mph and 16 mph later, with a 6 ft and 5 ft WSW swell that’s just weak and chopped up. Don’t bother.
Saturday the 12th is a step up in size—6 ft in the morning, building to 8 ft in the afternoon. The swell is from the SW, and the period stretches to 14 and 16 seconds, so there’s some proper groundswell energy (moderate energy at 1859 rising to 3108). The wind is a decent cross-offshore, but the forecast still calls it marginal. It’s a bit too big for beginners, but it’ll be cleaner for the experienced crew.
Sunday the 13th morning is the standout of the first week. Glassy conditions with a light 3 mph easterly breeze, and a solid 7 ft SW swell at 14 seconds (moderate energy at 2048). This is excellent surf for experienced surfers—clean, powerful, and well-shaped. Sunday afternoon drops back down to 5 ft with a light cross-shore, still okay but not the highlight.
Monday the 14th is a mess. Strong wind, 25 mph from the north, whipping up a short-period 7-second NW windswell. It’s 7 ft and 8 ft but all chop and no form. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
Tuesday the 15th is tiny and lumpy. The 2 ft swell in the morning is a joke, and the afternoon gets some size back at 5 ft but with 19 mph cross-winds. Not great.
Through the middle of the week, Wednesday 16th through Friday 18th, we see a consistent 8 ft to 7 ft SW swell, but the wind is mostly cross or fresh cross-shore, keeping things messy. The only clean window is Friday morning the 18th: a 7 ft SW swell with a 6 mph cross-offshore from the ESE—light enough to clean up nicely. That’s a good call.
Saturday morning the 19th brings a small, glassy 5 ft SW swell, with 3 mph wind. Nice for a quiet session on the longboard.
Looking further out, Monday morning the 21st is promising: glassy again, with a 3 mph WNW breeze, and a 5 ft WSW swell at 14 seconds. Very clean, with moderate energy (831). That’s worth circling.
The real standout for the whole outlook is Wednesday morning the 23rd. A clean, offshore 9 mph wind from the ENE, with a 7 ft SW swell at 14 seconds (strong energy at 2440). Conditions will be lined up and powerful—excellent for experienced surfers, and easily the best session on offer. This one will get you out of bed.
After that, the last few days of September look wind-affected and choppy, with nothing to get excited about. The crowd at Eerste Steen can get busy sometimes, so for those clean windows, expect some company.
Bottom line: mid-week is a write-off. Your best bets are Sunday the 13th morning, Friday the 18th morning, and the real standout is Wednesday the 23rd morning. Go get some.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 24°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the N on Mon morning, light winds from the NW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | NW 7 | NW 7 | SW 11 | SW 19 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
830 | 680 | 407 | 1500 | 2711 | 2341 | 1836 | 947 | 600 | 393 | 552 | 250 | 179 | 1271 | 3987 | 2027 | 1783 | 1073 | 929 | 1952 | 1982 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:25PM1.70m | 3:44AM1.55m | 3:58PM1.68m | 4:17AM1.52m | 4:29PM1.62m | 4:48AM1.45m | 4:59PM1.52m | 5:18AM1.35m | 5:29PM1.40m | 5:49AM1.24m | 6:00PM1.27m | 6:24AM1.13m | 6:36PM1.13m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:15AM0.02m | 9:42PM-0.01m | 9:48AM0.03m | 10:15PM0.01m | 10:19AM0.08m | 10:45PM0.07m | 10:49AM0.16m | 11:15PM0.17m | 11:18AM0.26m | 11:44PM0.28m | 11:48AM0.38m | 00:15AM0.41m | 12:20PM0.51m | 00:53AM0.53m | |||||||
6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
— | 6:34 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:36 | — | — | 6:36 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 19 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 14 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 6 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 13 |
830 | 680 | 407 | 1500 | 2711 | 2341 | 1836 | 947 | 600 | 386 | 272 | 250 | 66 | 1070 | 3987 | 2027 | 943 | 1073 | 929 | 360 | 1982 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 10 | — | — | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 13 | SSE 13 | SW 18 | SW 11 | SW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | W 12 | W 12 | — |
— | — | 49 | — | — | 169 | 212 | 153 | 39 | 3 | 17 | 13 | 174 | 1271 | 370 | 735 | 929 | 608 | 347 | 104 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 13 | — | SE 13 | SW 19 | — | — | — | — | SSW 18 | SW 15 | W 12 | — |
— | — | 107 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | 7 | 179 | — | — | — | — | 32 | 505 | 139 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 7 | SSE 7 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 8 | — | SSE 8 | NNW 4 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 7 | W 8 | — | S 4 | SW 13 | — | — | SSW 12 | SSE 6 |
340 | 562 | 355 | 359 | 397 | 412 | — | 379 | 33 | 393 | 552 | 200 | 122 | 470 | — | 33 | 1783 | — | — | 1952 | 160 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 401 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 39 | 233 | 194 | 31 | 194 | 233 | 9 | 127 | 72 | 36 | 16 | 380 | 58 |
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.










