Gwithian Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s in store for us over the next couple of weeks.

To be straight with you, the start of this period is a tough one. We’re looking at a real dry spell to kick things off. From Saturday the 8th of August right through until Tuesday the 11th, the swell is tiny and the conditions are just poor. You’d be wasting your time and petrol. There’s a gap of several days there with nothing worth paddling out for.

Then, on Wednesday the 12th of August, we finally get a little pulse of life. Gwithian will see a modest 1.0 ft swell from the west with a 10-second period. The combined wave energy is moderate (160), and the wind is offshore, which will keep things clean. The water temperature is 65°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s surfable after that long wait. The wind is offshore from the SE, so it’ll be clean and make the most of what little energy is there. If you’re a beginner, this is definitely your window – the size is small and manageable.

Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th, the swell builds a bit, but the wind turns onshore and cross-onshore, making it choppy and messy. It’s a no-go, lads.

The following week is a real mixed bag of onshore wind and small, poor-quality waves. The period from the 15th to the 21st of August is mostly a write-off, with consistent cross-onshore and onshore winds, and the swell staying small and weak. The combined energy is mostly low, rarely breaking into the moderate range.

Now, here’s the one that caught my eye for the pure adrenaline junkies. Keep your eyes on Saturday the 22nd of August. The swell is going to pulse up to 7 ft to 8 ft from the west, with a period around 9-10 seconds. The combined wave energy is absolutely pumping – a massive 665 to 1081, which is strong to very strong energy. This is big, powerful swell. But, and it’s a big but, the wind is a strong onshore breeze from the west and west-northwest, at 25 mph. That is going to blow the surface out completely. For a standard paddle session, it’s going to be a washing machine. For the experienced guys with a kite, this setup is going to be absolutely firing. For paddle surfing, it’s a pass unless you want a beatdown.

Sunday the 23rd of August keeps the size up – 10 ft swell from the northwest – but it’s still cross-on and lumpy, so only for the experts who don’t mind a challenge.

The one standout for a decent, clean paddle session is Wednesday the 12th. It’s the only day in the whole 16-day outlook where the offshore wind and small, clean swell line up. The rest of the window is either flat, too windy, or too big and messy. Get out there on the 12th if you can, because it’s a long wait for the next one.

Rusty.

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