Fistral-South Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at Fistral South.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with barely a ripple. From Monday the 27th all the way through to Saturday the 8th of August, it’s mostly small, weak, and choppy. The combined energy of all swells directed here is mostly a measly two-digit figure, well under 100, and that tells you all you need to know. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, churning up what little bump there is. It’s one of those periods where you’d be better off checking the tide pools.

The water temperature is sitting at 65°F on Monday the 27th, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit, but you will need patience.

Now, there’s a glimmer. Monday the 3rd of August morning sees a shift. We get a gentle offshore breeze from the SE, which is a major positive – that’ll clean things right up. The swell bumps to 4ft from the N, with period a short 6 seconds, and the combined energy climbs to 111 (moderate). The conditions are described as "surfable but very ordinary," so it’s not a standout, but it’s the first time in over a week where the wind is working for us. The wave height is small, so this is a good window for a beginner to get a few clean, small ones.

Looking further out, there’s a bigger pulse on the horizon. Sunday the 9th of August afternoon, the swell really starts to build. We’re talking 6ft from the WSW with a period of 11 seconds, and the combined energy hits 944 (strong). That’s a proper groundswell. But here’s the kicker – the wind is cross-onshore, and the conditions are still rated as poor. That’s a lot of energy being chopped up. For a beach break like Fistral, that long period (11 seconds) with a cross-onshore wind is going to be a mess. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, honestly.

The real standout, if you’re willing to wait, is Tuesday the 11th of August morning. The swell drops to a more manageable 5ft from the W, period 9 seconds, combined energy of 375 (moderate). The wind is a light cross-on from the WNW, which is better than a full-on, and the conditions are called "marginal." Given the long gap of nothing, this is the best on offer for the whole 16-day window. It’s not going to be perfect, but it’s the only window where the swell size and wind are in the same conversation. For a confident surfer, this is the day to paddle out. After that, Tuesday afternoon gets onshore again.

So, in short: dry for over a week, then a tiny clean window on the 3rd of August, and a promising but messy swell late on the 9th. The best bet is Tuesday the 11th of August morning at Fistral South, with 5ft swell from the West. It’s not a classic, but it’s what we’ve got.

Rusty.

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