Gwithian Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Grab a coffee, let’s see what’s happening on our little stretch of coast.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: the next week to ten days are looking grim for a proper surf. We’ve got a whole lot of poor conditions and not a lot of juice. The water's sitting at about 65°F, which is a touch warmer than what we’d normally expect this time of year, so that’s a small win.

We’re in for a long, dry spell here. From now until August 22nd, there is really nothing worth paddling out for. We’re looking at tiny, weak swells with onshore winds messing everything up. Friday the 14th through to the weekend is a write-off – we’re talking 1ft to 3ft of slop with moderate to fresh breezes from the wrong directions. It’ll be choppy and lumpy, and the wave energy is barely there (129 to 35). Don’t bother.

That quiet period drags on through the next week. By the 22nd, we get a brief moment of glassy conditions on Saturday morning with a 1ft swell from the west, but it’s just too small to ride. You’d be floating more than surfing.

Now, the first real glimmer of hope shows up on Sunday, August 23rd. It’s a bit of a curveball. Gwithian will see a clean, 3ft swell from the north with a light breeze that’s cross-offshore. It’s surfable, but the conditions are described as “very ordinary” and the wave energy is modest at 145. It’s not a day to get excited about, but if you’re desperate for a slide, that’s your window.

The story picks up a bit on Monday the 18th with some bigger swell rolling in, but don’t get your hopes up. We see 5ft from the west-northwest, but the wind is howling onshore at 19 mph. The energy is moderate (234), but the quality is poor. That trend of onshore wind and bumpy conditions hangs around until the 22nd.

Around Wednesday, August 27th, we start to see a shift. The swell builds to 8ft from the west-southwest by the afternoon, with a light breeze and a decent period of 8 seconds. The combined energy jumps up to 848, which is moderate to strong, but the surf quality is still only marginal. It’s a building swell, but not clean enough to shout about.

The real standout, and I mean the one to circle on your calendar, is Friday, August 28th. The models are showing a big pulse of west swell, 16ft at a long 13-second period. The wind is moderate and cross-offshore from the northeast, leaving the faces clean. However, I have to be honest – at 16ft, this is only for experts. That is a fat, powerful groundswell with an enormous amount of energy behind it (8564). It’s going to be meaty and challenging. The break will be handling a lot of water, and paddling out will be a mission between sets. For the experienced crew who know the bank, this could be a proper session, but beginners should stay well clear.

Saturday the 29th still has a solid 13ft west swell (11-second period) with clean conditions in the morning and a fresh cross-shore breeze. Again, this is big and heavy (4408 energy), definitely expert territory.

So, to wrap it up: the next week is a bust. Your best bet is the big, powerful west swell arriving on the 28th and 29th, but only if you’ve got the skill and the courage to handle it. For everyone else, maybe go for a walk.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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