Haardebaai Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a coffee, let’s have a look at this.

Alright, so the only spot on the cards for the next couple of weeks is Haardebaai. It’s a sheltered reef break that needs a solid W swell to really work, and it’s an advanced wave. It’s a consistent spot, but it can get a few people out there sometimes.

The water is currently reading 58°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so a decent 4/3mm steamer is the call.

Now, the first few days are a bit of a write-off. Friday the 21st has a big 7ft SW swell, but that ESE wind is just messing it up, making it poor. Saturday the 22nd is where it starts to get interesting. The wind swings offshore from the NNW, and the swell drops to a clean 4ft from the SSW. That’s your first real window. Saturday afternoon actually looks better with a 6ft SW groundswell and clean offshore WNW wind. That’s a fun session, but we’re not talking about a standout yet.

Sunday the 23rd is a bit of a mixed bag with onshore winds messing with a decent 8ft WSW swell. Then we hit a dry patch. From Monday the 24th right through to the morning of Thursday the 27th, it’s mostly poor or marginal. There’s a huge pulse of energy on the 25th with an 8ft SW swell and a 14-second period, but it’s getting hammered by a 22-31 mph onshore wind. That’s just a mess.

The next real glimmer is Thursday the 27th morning. We get a clean 4ft S swell with offshore NW wind. Not huge, but clean. The afternoon has a nice 5ft S groundswell with a 14-second period, but it’s a cross-off wind, so it’s a bit more tricky.

The best of the first week? I’d lean towards Saturday the 22nd afternoon. That 6ft SW swell with clean offshore WNW wind is the best combo of size and glassy conditions we see in the early run. The energy is moderate (967), but it’s clean.

Now, the second week is where the real monsters are, but it’s a game of timing.

Saturday the 29th is a big day. The morning has an 8ft W swell but it’s a short period at 8 seconds, so it’s a bit weak. The afternoon, though, is a beast: 15ft WSW swell with a massive energy reading of 4764, and it’s clean. That’s a big, powerful wave, but it’s only for experts at that size. It’s a standout for sheer power.

Sunday the 30th is also huge with an 12ft SW swell and 5012 energy, but the morning wind is a light cross-on, so it might be a bit lumpy. The afternoon is a total washout.

Then we get to the absolute standout of the whole forecast. Tuesday the 1st of September morning. The wind goes glassy, dead calm. The swell is a clean 5ft from the SW with a 13-second period. The energy is solid (1258), and it’s glassy. That is the best wave of the whole run. Perfect conditions for a reef break. It’s a lock for a great session.

After that, it gets big and wild again. Wednesday the 2nd has strong offshore winds on a 7ft WSW swell, which is clean but hard to paddle into. Thursday the 3rd of September morning is the biggest of the lot: an 18ft W swell with 12674 energy. That’s a massive, dangerous wave. It’s too big for this break, even for experts. Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th are still big, with 12ft SW swells and clean offshore winds, but it’s a lot of water moving.

So, if you want the best two sessions: Saturday the 22nd afternoon for a fun, clean, surfable wave, and Tuesday the 1st of September morning for the absolute perfection of a glassy, clean, powerful groundswell. That Tuesday morning is the one to circle.

Rusty.

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