Hout Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got a look at the next stretch for Hout Bay. First thing to note: the water is sitting at 57°, which is about 3° colder than average for this time of year, so a bit nippier than usual. The spot is a breakwater, sheltered, and it’s inconsistent, so you’ve got to be patient, but when it’s on, it’s on.

We’ve got a run starting Wednesday, 15 July. The morning sees a SW swell at 5 ft, with a period of 17 seconds – that’s a long-period groundswell, and it’s packing moderate-to-strong energy (1336). The wind is NNW at 9 mph, cross-off, leaving it clean. The afternoon goes a bit messy with a cross-on S wind at 3 mph, and the swell jumps to 8 ft, but it’s a bit of a washout. Not a standout.

Thursday, 16 July morning is the real winner early on. Glassy conditions with a S wind at 3 mph, and the swell is 8 ft at 13 seconds from the SW (2381 energy). That’s solid, clean, and powerful. For experienced surfers, this is the best on offer in the first week. The afternoon turns cross-on and average.

Friday, 17 July morning is glassy again with an ESE breeze at 3 mph, and the swell drops to 6 ft at 11 seconds (773 energy) – clean and fun, but not as serious as Thursday. Saturday, 18 July has a nice cross-off NNW wind both sessions, with the morning 6 ft at 13 seconds (1214) and the afternoon 6 ft from the WSW (1188) – the afternoon is clean offshore, making for a solid day.

There’s a gap of poor conditions from Sunday, 19 July through Monday, 20 July, with small, messy surf. Then Tuesday, 21 July brings a massive jump: early morning sees a 13 ft SW swell at 14 seconds, with a wild 6532 energy reading, but the wind is a cross-off NNW at 22 mph. That’s big and clean, but it’s only for experts, and the afternoon is similar. Wednesday, 22 July is even bigger with a 16 ft swell, but the wind hits 34 mph offshore – near gale, impossible to paddle into. The afternoon, though, is a solid 16 ft at 12 seconds with a clean cross-off WSW wind at 16 mph (7481 energy). That’s a standout for the big-wave crew.

The real standout of the entire forecast comes on Thursday, 23 July: morning sees a 16 ft SW swell at 14 seconds, with a cross-off NNW wind at 9 mph, producing 9044 energy – huge, clean, and powerful. The afternoon is 12 ft from the SSW (6983 energy) with a light offshore NW wind. That’s two sessions of excellent, expert-level surf. Friday, 24 July is also clean and tidy, with the afternoon 8 ft from the SW and an offshore wind.

Saturday, 25 July morning is another excellent session: 8 ft SW swell at 14 seconds (2413 energy) with a light cross-off N wind. After that, from Sunday, 26 July through Tuesday, 28 July, the wind turns onshore from the SSE, and the surf is poor. Wednesday, 29 July sees a return: a clean cross-off on the morning (6 ft WSW at 13 seconds, 1469 energy) and a glassy afternoon (6 ft WSW at 13 seconds, 1341 energy). Thursday, 30 July finishes strong with a 8 ft SW swell at 15 seconds (2173 energy) and a light offshore wind – excellent for experienced surfers.

So, the two standouts: Thursday, 16 July morning for the glassy, powerful 8 ft, and Thursday, 23 July for the massive 16 ft clean conditions. The breakwater is inconsistent, so don’t expect it to pump every day, but when it lines up like this, it’s worth the wait.

Rusty.

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