Haardebaai Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here.

This is a tricky 16-day window for Haardebaai. The forecast is a real mixed bag, with a lot of onshore wind and poor quality surf getting in the way. We’ve got a long stretch of iffy conditions before we finally see a proper window of clean, rideable waves. The ocean temp is about 58°F which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit.

The first chance to get wet that’s actually worth a look is Saturday morning, August 22. The wind switches to a clean offshore from the NNW at 12 mph, and we’ve got a 4ft SSW groundswell pushing in with a 13-second period. The combined energy is moderate at 767, and it’ll be clean. It’s not huge, but for a reef setup like Haardebaai, it’ll offer some fun, lined-up waves. This is your best bet in the first week, but it’s a pretty low-key option.

After that, things get messy again with a lot of onshore wind and rising swell that’s just blown out. The next real standout doesn’t show up until Wednesday morning, August 26. The wind turns offshore again from the WNW at 9 mph, and we’ve got a 6ft SSW groundswell with a 13-second period. The combined energy is 1552, and it’s looking clean and very good. This is a solid pulse for a reef break, offering some proper shape and power.

Then, Thursday morning, August 27 is a beauty. The wind goes glassy, flat calm from the east at just 3 mph. The swell drops to 4ft from the WSW, with an 11-second period. It’s not big, but with glassy conditions, Haardebaai will be like a mirror. The combined energy is low at 673, but the quality of the wave will be all about the clean, smooth face. A perfect morning for a longboard or a funboard.

Looking further out, the second week has some promise but less certainty. Sunday morning, August 30 sees a strong offshore wind from the NNW at 16 mph, with a 10ft S swell, combined energy of 3742. That’s a lot of power, but it’s a big, long-period swell (11 seconds) hitting a reef. It’ll be a challenge and only for experienced surfers. The wind is strong offshore, so it’ll be clean, but paddling into those sets will be a mission.

Monday afternoon, August 31 offers a cleaner option. The wind is light from the west at 9 mph, cross-offshore, with a 8ft SW groundswell and a 15-second period. The combined energy is a strong 3438. This is a proper groundswell, and at Haardebaai, the long period will give it serious shape and power. It’s a great option for the more experienced crew.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off aside from the clean but small sessions on the 22nd and the 26th. The real standout is Thursday morning, August 27 for the glassy conditions, and the big, powerful groundswell on Monday afternoon, August 31 is the one for the advanced surfers.

Rusty.

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