Haardebaai Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a bit of a wait for the good stuff, but once it arrives, it’s going to be a proper session for the experienced crew. The first few days are a write-off, but hold tight.

The forecast opens on Wednesday, 12 August, but honestly, don’t bother paddling out at Haardebaai right now. The water temperature is sitting at 15°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, and the swell is a messy 6ft from the SW with a very long 18-second period, but it’s being torn apart by a strong cross-onshore breeze. The combined wave energy is high at 2307, but it’s just a lumpy, poor surf zone. That carries through Wednesday afternoon and into Thursday morning.

Now, Thursday, 13 August, that’s where the spark shows up. Thursday morning at Haardebaai we’ve got a solid 8ft SW groundswell, 17-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze from the NNE at 5 km/h. This is a reef break, so that long period is going to line up beautifully. The combined energy is pumping at 3307, but with the size, this is only for advanced surfers – it’s big, powerful, and not for the faint-hearted. The water is glassy clean. Thursday afternoon is almost as good, with 7ft SW swell, glassy conditions, and a 16-second period. That’s the standout window of the whole outlook.

Friday, 14 August, the swell drops to 6ft, but the wind stays cross-off, keeping it reasonably clean. The period drops to 15 seconds, still a nice groundswell, but the energy is down to 1337. It’s a marginal day, but worth a look if you missed Thursday.

Saturday, 15 August, is a write-off onshore wind and poor conditions. Skip it.

Sunday, 16 August, brings a fresh chance. The morning has a 6ft WSW swell with a 14-second period, and you get a clean offshore wind from the WNW at 15 km/h. The combined energy is 1111, and the conditions are described as very good. It’s not the size of Thursday, but it will be clean and fun.

Monday, 17 August, is the second big standout. The morning delivers 8ft WSW swell, 14-second period, with a light offshore from the NW at 10 km/h. The combined energy is 2416, and it’s excellent for experienced surfers. That’s big, powerful, and clean. By afternoon, it’s still 8ft with a light cross-off breeze, still excellent. This is expert territory.

From Tuesday, 18 August, things start to fall apart. The wind swings onshore, the swell drops, and the quality goes downhill quickly. Through the rest of the week and into the following week, it’s a lot of poor to marginal surf with onshore winds and smaller, weaker swell. There’s a brief glimmer on Sunday, 23 August, with a 4ft SSW swell and a clean cross-off breeze, but it’s small. The following Monday and Tuesday, 24 and 25 August, have clean offshore winds but the swell is tiny, under 4ft, and the energy is weak.

So, the real takeaway here: Thursday, 13 August is the best on offer, especially the morning session at Haardebaai with that 8ft SW groundswell and glassy conditions. Monday, 17 August is a close second for the bigger, more powerful surf. After that, it’s a slow fade into small, clean windows.

Rusty.

Read more