Hout Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next few weeks for the Cape Town stretch.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but don’t write it off just yet. The first few days are a bit of a write-off with a strong onshore wind and some serious swell energy that’s just too messy to bother with. The real action doesn’t kick in until Thursday morning, the 30th of July. That’s when we get our first decent window.

Thursday morning sees the swell drop to a clean 5 ft from the SW, with a solid 13-second period. The wind is glassy – dead calm – and the water temp is about average for this time of year. The wave energy is moderate (815). It’s small but clean, and for a sheltered spot like the breakwater at Hout Bay, that’s a good combo. The crowds here can be a problem sometimes, but on a Thursday morning with smallish swell, you might get lucky.

Friday morning, the 31st of July, is also worth a paddle. The swell is a little smaller at 4 ft from the SW, period hanging at 12 seconds, and again it’s glassy. Wave energy is down to 501, but the glassy conditions make it super user-friendly. The breakwater is inconsistent, so you’ll be waiting for sets, but when they come they’ll be clean.

Now, the real standout is Monday the 3rd of August. This is the one to circle on the calendar. Monday morning brings a solid 8 ft SW groundswell (14-second period) with a clean, cross-offshore wind out of the north. The wave energy jumps to 2313 – strong stuff. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The breakwater will be handling that size well, but at 8 ft it’s getting a bit serious for beginners. The winds are light, so it’ll be clean.

The following Wednesday, the 5th of August, is another big one. Morning sees 8 ft SW swell with 14 seconds and clean cross-offshore winds, energy at 3567. By the afternoon, it’s pumping with 12 ft from the WSW, same period, and offshore winds. That’s an expert-only session with wave energy at 4319. This is big, powerful, and long-period groundswell – perfect for the point and reef setups, but the breakwater will be firing for those who know what they’re doing.

Thursday the 6th of August is also substantial, with 13 ft SW swell in the morning and energy hitting 5975, but the wind is a bit stronger. The afternoon cleans up with a lighter offshore breeze, but again, this is for experts only.

The second week looks less reliable. The swell drops off, and the wind turns more onshore and funky from the 7th onwards. There’s a brief window on Saturday the 8th with a 5 ft WSW swell and fresh offshore winds, but it’s marginal. The following week looks like a lot of wind-affected, big, messy swell, so don’t get your hopes up for that period.

Rusty.

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