Gwithian Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. We’re looking at the 16-day window for Gwithian, and I’ve got to be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. There’s a lot of onshore wind and messy conditions in the forecast, so don’t expect too many clean lines.

The first real chance to get wet looks like Saturday morning, the 22nd of August. We’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the north, but the wind is off the land from the east at 9 mph. That’s going to make for a glassy, clean surface. The wave energy is low though, and the period is a short 6 seconds, so it’ll be a bit weak and lumpy. It’s surfable, but you’ll be working for every little ride. The water temp is 64°F, which is just about average for this time of year, so no wetsuit drama.

After that, we hit a massive dry spell. From Sunday the 23rd right through to Tuesday the 26th, the surf is either tiny, onshore, or both. There’s a small window on Wednesday morning, the 26th of August, with a 4ft SSW swell, but it’s cross-shore wind at 16 mph, so it’ll be a choppy mess. The afternoon improves a little with a 5ft SSW swell and lighter cross-shore wind, but the energy is still moderate, and the 8-second period isn’t doing it any favours. It’s marginal, not a standout.

The next real event is further out. Saturday the 29th of August sees a bigger 8ft swell from the west-northwest, but the wind is onshore from the west-northwest at 16 mph. That’s a lot of power but it’s going to be blown out and messy. For a beginner, that’s too big and ugly. For an expert, it’s a wild, windy day. The afternoon stays similar at 7ft with onshore wind.

Sunday the 30th of August drops off fast, with only 3ft to 3ft of weak, short-period swell and cross-shore winds. Not worth the paddle.

Looking way out, there’s another pulse on Thursday the 3rd of September. A 7ft swell from the west-southwest hits with a near gale (31 mph) cross-shore wind. That’s a massive wave energy, but the wind will be shredding the surface. For the few brave souls, Friday the 4th of September might offer a cleaner, smaller 5ft swell from the west with a gentle cross-onshore wind. It’s the best of a bad lot in the second week, but still not a classic.

Honestly, if you’re a surfer, the only spot that holds any real hope is Gwithian itself, and that’s on Saturday morning the 22nd. It’s a beginner-friendly break, but it’s inconsistent and often crowded. For the rest of the 16 days, the setup is more interesting for the kite surfers than us paddle surfers. The forecasts can always change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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