Falmouth - Swanpool Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks around Falmouth - Swanpool are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. The ocean’s been holding out on us, and we’ve got a long stretch of flatness to wade through before anything even worth a mention rolls in.

Right out of the gate, from Wednesday the 5th of August all the way through until the early hours of Thursday the 13th of August, there’s basically nothing. We’re talking a full week of tiny, gutless waves. The combined swell energy is bouncing between a weak 1 and a modest 30 (most days under 30), so don’t bother checking the tides. Even the glassy conditions on Friday the 7th with zero wind can’t save a 0.3ft swell. It’s a lake out there.

The first real sign of life shows up on the morning of Thursday the 13th of August. The swell bumps up to 5ft from the WSW with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy kicks up to a moderate 359. The wind is a cross-off from the WSW, which will keep things clean. But let’s be honest, the surf reports are calling it “marginal” – it’s not going to be a classic, and the afternoon gets messy with stronger wind. That 5ft is also pushing into the “too big for beginners” territory, but it’s not a clean, powerful wave.

Then there’s a bit of a gap again until Sunday the 16th of August. That morning, we see the biggest swell of the whole forecast: 7ft from the WSW, with a period of 7 seconds and a combined energy of 490. That’s a strong, chunky amount of water. The wind is offshore from the NW, which is a major positive – it’ll be clean. But here’s the thing: 7ft is getting into the realm of “experts only.” The short period (7 seconds) also means it’s going to be a bit of a lumpy, close-outy mess on a beach break like Swanpool. This is a day for the experienced locals only, and even then, expect a grindy, difficult paddle out. The forecast is still a week and a half out, so don’t hold your breath.

The water temp is sitting at 66°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, but that’s about the only comfort you’ll get.

If you’re really keen, the best (and really only) standout on offer is the morning of the 16th of August. The setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, given the strong wind and short-period, hefty swell. But for the rest of us, this is a long, dry spell. It probably won’t stay this poor forever, but for now, the boards are staying in the shed.

Rusty.

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