Gwithian Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Right off the bat, I’ve got to be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. Through the entire 16-day window, the surf quality is graded as poor, with almost every session getting a zero. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with next to nothing worth paddling out for. The main issue is that the wind is almost always onshore or cross-onshore, and when it’s not, the swell is tiny or completely jumbled.

The first real chance for a wave comes on Saturday, August 22nd. There’s a tiny window in the afternoon – the wind goes glassy, which is a beautiful thing. The swell is a meagre 3ft from the North, but with a period of only 6 seconds, it’s weak, wobbley stuff. The combined energy is a low 100, so it’s barely a pulse. The water temp is 64°F with a 1°F anomaly, so just a touch warmer than average for this time of year. It’s surfable, but very ordinary.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. The next notable bump isn’t until Tuesday, August 25th. Tuesday afternoon sees a bit of a lift with 4ft swell from the West, a period of 10 seconds, and a cross-offshore wind from the South at 19 mph. The combined energy jumps to 353, so there’s some moderate grunt there. The wind makes it clean, but the overall score is still poor – the swell is a bit raw and the direction is a bit off.

By Thursday, August 27th, we get a bit more size. The morning shows 6ft from the West with a period of 8 seconds, and a clean cross-offshore wind from the SSE at 25 mph. That’s a strong breeze, but the clean face will be a welcome sight. The energy is moderate at 338. It’s still not a standout, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a while.

Looking further out, the end of the first week of September brings a solid pulse. Tuesday, September 1st has a 10ft swell from the WSW, but with an 8-second period and a strong cross-onshore wind from the NNW at 25 mph. That’s a big, messy, lumpy mess – only for the die-hards or the kite crew. The combined energy is a whopping 1016, which is strong, but the wind will tear it apart. Too big for beginners, and the conditions will be punishing for everyone.

Honestly, if I had to pick a single standout, and it’s a weak one, it’s that glassy Saturday afternoon on August 22nd. The 3ft with zero wind is the cleanest you’ll see, but you’ll be fighting for scraps. Otherwise, the Tuesday afternoon on August 25th offers the best combo of moderate size and clean conditions. Everything else is just a fight against the wind or flat.

Stay patient, lads. It’s a rough run.

Rusty.

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