Haardebaai Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about your local spot. We’re looking at Haardebaai, and it’s a real mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. The first few days are a total write-off, so don’t even bother paddling out until Thursday the 27th. After that, there’s a decent window, then it turns real cranky again.

Haardebaai is a reef break, and it’s consistent, so it’s got that going for it. But it’s an advanced wave – you need to have your wits about you. The water’s running at about 59°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so nothing weird there.

Right now through Wednesday, it’s a mess. Tuesday the 25th is all onshore junk – 8 ft from the SW with a strong ESE wind blowing straight across it. Forget it. Wednesday isn’t any better: still cross-onshore, messy as hell.

Thursday the 27th is where it finally turns. The morning shows a clean 5 ft SW swell, light offshore wind from the WNW, and a solid 12-second period. The wave energy’s moderate (955), but the glassy wind makes it look real nice. It’s not huge, but it’ll be fun and clean. Afternoon drops off a touch to 4 ft, but it’s still clean.

Friday the 28th is a step down. Swell hangs around 4 ft from the S, but the wind swings cross-on, light. It’s marginal – surfable, but you’ll be working for it. Same deal Saturday morning with a clean but smaller 5 ft WSW swell.

Standout alert: Saturday the 29th afternoon. This is the pick of the first week. We’ve got 7 ft from the WSW, a 14-second period, and a clean offshore wind from the WNW. The combined energy jumps to a strong 3084. This is proper reef-swell territory – long period, groundswell, will line up nicely. That said, 7 ft on a reef is expert territory, no place for beginners. The crowd factor here is “sometimes” busy, so expect a few heads out but nothing nasty.

Sunday the 30th turns bad again – onshore wind, lumpy 8 ft to 8 ft. No good. Monday the 31st is still blown out.

Then we get a late run. Tuesday the 1st of September morning shows 7 ft from the SW with a fresh offshore wind – clean but on the smaller side for this spot. The afternoon though… 10 ft from the SW, 14-second period, offshore wind, and a combined energy of 3908. That’s powerful. It’s only a 3 out of 10 on their scale, but that’s because it’s a beast – experts only. Crowds might be about.

Wednesday the 2nd of September morning is the biggest of the whole run. 13 ft from the SW, 14-second period, fresh offshore wind, and a massive 6021 combined energy. This is not a day for the faint-hearted. The long period makes it a proper groundswell, so it’ll hold up on the reef, but it’s for experienced surfers only. Afternoon drops to a cross-off wind, still 13 ft, but not as clean.

After that, it falls apart. Thursday the 3rd is messy cross-on junk, then Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th are small and blown out. Sunday the 6th through to the 9th of September is all onshore, small, and poor – a long gap of useless surf.

So, if you’re paddling out, the clear standout is Saturday afternoon the 29th of August – 7 ft SW, offshore wind, clean. And for the brave, Wednesday morning the 2nd of September – 13 ft SW, offshore, just a monster.

Rusty out.

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