Haardebaai Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

First off, it’s a reef set-up that works best with a west swell, and it's only for the advanced crew. The water temp is sitting at a normal 60° for this time of year, so nothing wild there. But, and this is a big but, the first week is pretty much a write-off. From this Friday the 11th right through to the following Friday the 18th, the wind is just relentless. We’re looking at strong onshore and cross-onshore breezes from the east and southeast, gusting up to 28 mph and even 34 mph, just tearing the place up. There’s solid swell in there – like 8 ft on Saturday the 12th with a long 16-second period and a combined energy of 3525 (moderate), but it’s just messy and lumpy. Forget about it for paddle surfing; this setup looks way more interesting for kite surfing than anything with a paddle. There is a moment on Monday the 14th with a clean offshore wind from the NNW, but that NW swell is only packing 7-second period and the wind is a near gale at 31 mph – you’d be fighting just to get out. The swell on Tuesday the 15th is a tiny 2 ft with an 18-second period, which is proper long-period groundswell, but again, the wind is a strong offshore.

Now, after that rough spell, we get a glimmer. The best on offer, and the true standout, is Saturday the 19th morning. The forecast shows glassy conditions, with the wind coming light from the WNW at just 3 mph. The swell is a clean 4 ft from the WSW, with a 12-second period and combined energy of 476 (weak). It’s not huge, but with the reef holding it and that glassy surface, it’s the cleanest wave of the whole outlook. It’s only a 2 out of 10 on the scale, but for this stretch, that’s gold. After that, it’s back to onshore junk from the SE through Sunday and Monday the 21st and 22nd, before the wind finally shifts offshore again on Thursday the 24th morning. That morning brings a moderate offshore from the NW, with 6 ft from the SW and 13-second period (combined energy 976). It’s clean and surfable, another solid option.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a complete loss for a paddle. The one true standout is Saturday the 19th morning when it goes glassy. Keep an eye on Thursday the 24th morning too, as a secondary clean window. Everything else is blown out or too windy to bother with.

Rusty.

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