Haardebaai Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Haardebaai.

Overall, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got some serious swell energy on the way, but the wind is gonna be the main character for much of this run. The first few days are pretty scrappy, with onshore winds ruining the party. The standout windows are a couple of clean, glassy mornings that are gonna be worth paddling out for.

Starting Tuesday, the 18th of August, it’s a bit of a write-off. The morning has a 6ft SW swell, but with a light onshore breeze, it’s not gonna be clean. The afternoon gets worse with a 10ft SW swell and a solid 25 km/h onshore wind making it a messy, blown-out mess. Not worth the effort.

Wednesday the 19th is a step in the right direction. The morning is still a bit rough with a 8ft SW swell and a cross-onshore breeze. But the afternoon is where it’s at. The wind swings to a light offshore and the 8ft SW swell cleans right up. It’s still a bit of a handful, but it’ll be surfable and fun.

Thursday the 20th is a big one but a washout. The morning has a 12ft SW swell with a moderate onshore wind, making it a massive, choppy mess. That’s expert-only territory, and even then, it’s not gonna be pretty. The afternoon is the same story with a 10ft SW swell and strong onshore wind.

Friday the 21st is small and weak. The morning has a 7ft SW swell with onshore wind, so it’s poor. The afternoon drops to a 5ft WSW swell, but the cross-onshore wind keeps it mediocre.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Saturday, the 22nd of August, is your call to action. The morning at Haardebaa (Haardebaai) is laced with a 12ft SW swell and a screaming 35 km/h offshore wind. That’s heavy, powerful, and clean. This is big-boy territory, only for advanced surfers, with a massive combined energy of (4836). The afternoon is even bigger, with a 15ft SW swell and a cross-offshore wind, holding a crazy (6290) energy. It’s a bit of a beast, but it’s a proper groundswell with a 13-second period, so it’ll have some serious push.

Then, Sunday, the 23rd of August, is the absolute standout. The morning is pure magic. Absolutely glassy conditions, zero wind, and a clean 8ft WSW swell. The wave energy is still strong (2692), but the conditions are pristine. For experienced surfers, this is about as good as it gets. The afternoon is still solid, but the wind picks up to a cross-onshore, so grab the morning session.

After that, we hit a bit of a lull. Monday the 24th, Tuesday the 25th, and Wednesday the 26th are all a bit messy or small. Wednesday the 26th morning does have a glassy 7ft WSW swell, which is a nice little window for a cleaner, smaller session.

Thursday the 27th is small and clean, with 4ft WSW swells and light offshore winds. Good for a longboard or a fun fish.

The end of the run gets wild again. Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th see massive 10ft to 12ft swells, but with horrible onshore winds that are flat-out dangerous. Not for surfing. The 30th of August is also a no-go with big, choppy, messy conditions.

The very end of the window, Monday the 1st of September, is a bit of a redemption. The morning is glassy again with a 8ft SW swell. That’s a nice, clean, solid wave. The afternoon turns back to onshore, so get it early.

So, to wrap it up: Sunday morning the 23rd of August is your best bet. Glassy, 8ft WSW swell, and clean. For the bigger, more powerful stuff, Saturday the 22nd of August is your window if you’ve got the stones. The water is sitting at about 58°, which is a bit chillier than normal for this time of year, so don’t forget a hood.

Rusty.

Read more