Penhale Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s be honest with you. For the next 16 days, Penhale is a tough sell. The whole period is a real mixed bag of onshore wind and messy conditions. There’s very little to get excited about, and a lot of it is just a write-off for a decent paddle. The water temp is sitting around 65°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so at least you won’t freeze while you’re sitting there waiting for a clean one.

The overall pattern is grim. You’ve got a long stretch of poor surf right through the first week. Tuesday the 4th kicks off with a 4ft SW swell but it’s hammered by a 19 mph cross-on wind, so it’s lumpy and messy. Wednesday the 5th has a bit more size, with 6ft on the morning, but again, that 19 mph onshore wind ruins it. Thursday the 6th drops off to 4ft, and the wind is still cross-on. It’s just a constant battle.

We finally get a bit of a break on Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th. The swell drops right down to 1ft, but we get glassy conditions. It’s small, but it’s clean. You could get a fun little log out if you’re desperate, but it’s not really surfable in any meaningful way.

From Tuesday the 11th, the wind swings offshore from the NE, but the swell is tiny, still only 1ft to 3ft. It’s clean, but there’s nothing to push you in. The combined energy is weak, sitting at just 17 to 113 (units), so it’s a lake.

The first real flicker of hope comes on Thursday the 13th. We get a 3ft WSW swell with a light offshore wind from the ENE. The combined energy is moderate at 118 (units), and the comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s not a standout, but it’s the first thing that’s not completely written off. It’s a beginner-level wave, but the wind is clean.

The best chance of the whole forecast window is on Friday the 14th morning. The swell jumps to 4ft from the W, with a 9-second period, and it’s glassy. The combined energy is 215 (units), which is solid moderate energy. The comment still says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” but the glassy wind is a massive positive. It’s a beginner-friendly size, and the clean conditions will make it look a lot better than anything else we’ve seen. This is your one real shot.

After that, it turns ugly again. Saturday the 15th has a 6ft swell, but it’s cross-on and messy. The 18th of August has a 7ft swell with a 25 mph cross-on wind and rain showers. That’s just a washing machine, and the combined energy is 976 (units), which is very strong. That’s not a paddle surf day; that’s a kite day if you’re into that.

So, the honest truth? The only standout is Friday the 14th morning. It’s not a classic, but it’s the cleanest, most surfable window in the whole 16 days. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or too messy. If you’re a beginner, that Friday morning is your best bet. For everyone else, maybe give it a miss.

Rusty.

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