Falmouth - Swanpool Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Falmouth - Swanpool.

To be straight with you, this stretch is going through a lean spell. For the first ten days or so, we’re staring at a whole lot of nothing. From Sunday the 16th of August right through to the early hours of Wednesday the 27th of August, the swell is tiny – barely a ripple. You’d be luckier with a paddleboard than a surfboard. The wind does swing offshore at times, keeping things clean if you’re desperate for a splash, but the wave energy is weak, with readings as low as 6 to 48 in the combined energy bracket. Honestly, it’s a write-off.

Then, around Thursday morning the 27th, things finally show a pulse. We get a jump up to 6 ft of swell from the WSW with a period of 7 seconds. The wind turns gentle offshore from the NW, making for clean, rideable conditions. The combined energy hits 282 (moderate energy). It’s not going to blow your mind, but after that long dry gap, it’s the first real chance for a few fun little waves. The afternoon stays similar, just a touch more wind.

Hold on for the standout though. Saturday the 29th of August afternoon – this is the big one. The swell builds to a meaty 12 ft from the WSW, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is a whopping 1769 (strong to very strong wave energy). That’s proper power. The wind is cross-off from the west (Fresh breeze) but the forecast says wind and tide are favourable. Now, I’ve gotta be honest with you: for Swanpool, a beginner’s spot, this is too big for most. That’s expert territory, and even then, it’s going to be a beast. The swell is big and raw, and with that period, it’ll be dumping with a lot of water moving. The crowds here are often, so if you’re an experienced local who knows the bank, you might score a wild one, but this is not one for the learner.

After that, Sunday the 30th drops back to 7 ft with strong breeze cross-off winds and combined energy of 511 (moderate), but the conditions are poor, and by the afternoon it fades to nothing again with gusts of 25 mph.

So, to wrap it up: the one true standout is that Saturday afternoon on the 29th of August for experts only. The water temperature is sitting at a touch warmer than normal for the time of year (66°F, with a 4° anomaly), so you won’t need a thick suit.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

Read more