Paignton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. Looking at the next 16 days for our stretch of coast, and honestly, it’s a tough one. We’re staring down a long, bleak stretch with barely a ripple worth paddling for.

The whole window is looking pretty flat. The swell energy is next to nothing for the most part. We’re talking figures like 3, 8, or 14 in the combined energy brackets – that’s just weak, barely-there stuff that won't push you around. There’s a tiny bump on the 23rd of August where the energy gets to 53, but with it comes an onshore wind that’ll have things messy. For the vast majority of the time, we’ll have nothing rideable, and it isn’t until about the 22nd of August that we even see a hint of a surfable wave.

Now, the one spot we’re looking at is Paignton (Torbay). It’s a beginner’s break, but it is `inconsistent` and only rates as `fairly exposed`. For the first week, there’s nothing. Zilch. Flat spells and calm winds. You’d be better off having a kayak than a surfboard.

The first hint of a life comes on the morning of Friday the 21st of August. We’ve got a tiny 2ft wave with a NE swell direction, energy of 8, and a short 4-second period. It’s weak and pretty gutless, but the wind is light and cross-shore, so it might be clean enough for a total beginner to get a few white-water rides. It won't be pretty.

The 22nd of August is a bit better. The swell bumps up to 2ft from the NE with the energy at 14. It’s still a short period, but clean enough. If you’re absolutely desperate, this could be your one shot for the whole stretch.

But make no mistake, there is nothing good on offer here. The swell is tiny, and the period is so short it’s just not going to have any push. And with the water temp at 67°, that’s a notable 5° warmer than average for this time of year, so at least you won’t be cold while you’re sitting there wondering where the waves went.

The next week is more of the same. We see onshore winds and rain kick up on the 23rd and 24th, and by the 28th, there’s a proper near-gale from the NNE with some rain – it’s just blown-out, choppy chaos. For a break like this with an E/SE exposure, we’re not seeing the right direction, and the conditions are just poor. To be honest, on those strong onshore days, the setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.

So there you have it. A long, flat spell. I’m not going to lie to you; it’s a grim outlook. With a wave this small and the forecasts this changeable, things can pick up, but for now, there’s very little to get excited about. Sometimes it just goes quiet, and this looks like one of those times.

Keep the faith, this won't last forever. I'll be here when it turns.

Rusty.

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