Hout Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and I’m looking at the next couple of weeks for Hout Bay. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there are a couple of windows that could be really special if you time it right.

First off, the water’s sitting at 56°, which is a massive 4° colder than normal for this time of year. That’s a serious drop – you’ll want a thick wetsuit, no question.

The first few days are a write-off. The 18th through the 21st are mostly a mess – strong, choppy cross-onshore winds and big, unruly swell. The wave energy is massive (1894 on the Tuesday morning, 2596 on the afternoon), but it’s just not clean. You’re better off staying home.

The first real glimmer comes on the morning of Saturday the 22nd. We’ve got a cleaner setup with an offshore wind from the NW, a smaller 3ft swell from the SSW, and the energy drops to a more manageable 440. It’s not big, but it’ll be clean and fun for a beginner session at the breakwater. The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you might have a few people out, but nothing wild.

The standout window, the one you’ve been waiting for, is the morning of Wednesday the 26th. Glassy conditions – absolutely no wind – and a solid 6ft swell from the WSW with a period of 12 seconds. The energy is strong (1047), and with that glassy surface, the breakwater is going to be smooth and peeling. This is the best of the first week, hands down.

Then there’s a bit of a gap. The 27th has some okay surf but the wind goes bad again in the afternoon. The 28th is howling onshore, a total loss.

But hold on. The real prize is the morning of Sunday the 30th of August. We’re looking at another glassy morning, this time with a much bigger 8ft swell from the SW, and a very long period of 16 seconds. The energy is enormous (4313), and this is for experienced surfers only – that’s proper groundswell. It’s going to be powerful and clean, but the breakwater can get a bit straight with such a long period, so keep that in mind. This is the best day on offer.

The morning of Monday the 31st also looks good with a clean offshore wind from the NW and 8ft of SW swell. It’s a solid follow-up day.

The first couple of days of September keep the swell going, with 12ft on the 1st and 10ft on the 2nd, but the wind is cross-offshore, not true offshore, so it won’t be as picture-perfect as the 30th. Still, for a strong surfer, it’s worth a look.

So, the call: If you’re a beginner, the 22nd morning is your window. For everyone else, lock in the morning of the 30th of August for the best waves of the run. The 26th morning is a close second.

Rusty.

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