Haardebaai Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright mates, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next couple weeks at Haardebaai – a proper reef slab that knows how to hold a swell.

The water’s about 58°F, so a bit cooler than the norm for this time of year. Suit up.

We start Friday, August 14th with a nice 6ft groundswell from the WSW, 15-second period. It’s got strong energy (1208). The wind is a fresh offshore out of the NW. Not quite perfect due to some tide, but it’s a real, raw wave for the advanced crew. Friday afternoon the wind eases a touch, still offshore and clean, with the same size swell but a 14-second period and even more energy (1229). Solid.

Saturday, August 15th is the glassy gold. The morning is dead calm – 3 mph breeze from the ENE – with the swell at 6ft, 13-second period (energy 1089). That’s as clean as you can get. Afternoon stays glassy with a light SE breeze. This is the moment. It can get a crowd here though, so keep your head on a swivel.

Sunday, August 16th the swell steps up to 6ft in the morning, NW offshore at 16 mph, and the energy is climbing (1454). Sunday afternoon pumps to 8ft from the same WSW, 14-second period, and the energy jumps to 2541. The wind holds offshore. That’s excellent, but at 8ft you better be experienced. Not a beginner wave.

Monday, August 17th morning is a clear standout. Light offshore breeze from the WNW at just 6 mph, with an 8ft swell at 13 seconds and a huge energy of 2528. Perfect window. The afternoon turns a bit cross-onshore, so get in early.

Then the wind shifts on Tuesday and Wednesday, blowing onshore from the SE. The swell sits at 8ft but with junk wind. This poor stretch runs from Tuesday, August 18th through Thursday evening, August 20th – a rough spell.

We get a little life back on Friday, August 21st with a cross-onshore breeze and 7ft swell. Marginal. Saturday, August 22nd brings a massive 12ft swell from the SW with a fresh NW offshore. That’s huge energy (3837), but the report flags it as marginal for tide or alignment. Experts only.

Sunday, August 23rd morning is another big one: 12ft, 13-second period, with a light WNW cross-offshore wind. That’s excellent for the brave. Afternoon goes cross-onshore.

The next week starts rough again with onshore winds and dropping swell. But Wednesday, August 26th brings a 8ft groundswell with a very long 16-second period (energy 3193). That period is a beast – it’ll want the reef, but the wind is cross-onshore.

The absolute gem: Thursday, August 27th morning is glassy dead calm, with 8ft of excellent, clean swell from the SW at 13 seconds (energy 2005). Perfect. Friday, August 28th morning stays offshore with 7ft and good energy (1788).

The very last day, August 29th, has a monster 15ft swell from the SW (energy 7244), but the onshore wind is screaming at 19 mph from the ESE. That’s survival, not surfing. Leave that to the kiteboarders.

The picks: Saturday morning August 15th – glassy, 6ft, long period, perfect. And Thursday morning August 27th – glassy, 8ft of clean power. Those are your windows. Monday and Sunday the 23rd are also very strong for the experienced crew.

Watch the tide at the reef, know your limits, and enjoy the ride.

Rusty.

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