Perran Sands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Perran Sands. I’ve got to be straight with you – this 16-day window is a bit of a tough one. The whole run is flagged as poor surf conditions, and there’s no standout session that’s going to have you scrambling for your wetsuit. The first bit of any real size doesn’t show up until the 19th of August, but even then, the wind is a mess.

Let’s start with the water. When we do get a chance to paddle out, the water temp on the 16th is sitting at 66°F, which is a whopping 4°F warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a very noticeable anomaly, so you’ll be in for a surprisingly warm dip.

The first session worth mentioning is on the morning of Sunday, the 18th of August. It’s small, with a 4ft swell from the WNW, but the period is a short 6 seconds and the wind is a strong onshore breeze from the WNW at 15 mph. The combined energy is moderate (145), but it’s going to be choppy and messy. Not a winner.

We get a bit of a bump on Wednesday the 20th, with a 6ft swell from the WNW and a longer 9-second period in the morning. Combined energy climbs to 594 (moderate to strong), but the wind is a fresh cross-onshore from the WNW at 19 mph, and rain showers are on the cards. It’s lumpy and not the clean stuff you want.

The highlight, if you can call it that, is the afternoon of the 29th of August. The swell jumps to 10ft from the W with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is a whopping 1366 (very strong). This is serious, powerful surf. But here’s the catch: the wind is a fresh cross-onshore from the W at 22 mph, and it’s a reef break. At over 8ft, this is strictly for experts only. The size is there, but the wind is going to make it a battle. It’s a long way out, so take this one with a grain of salt, but it’s the only real punch of power in the whole window.

For the rest of the run, we’re looking at small, wind-affected slop, or big, wind-affected churn. The 23rd of August has a tiny 2ft swell from the N with a clean cross-offshore wind, but it’s only 5 seconds of period and almost no energy (52). Fine for a splash, but not a surf.

So, what’s the call? The 20th of August morning is the most balanced with moderate energy (594) and a 6ft swell, but it’s still lumpy. The 29th afternoon is the true big-wave event, but it’s a windy, expert-only affair. Between the 16th and the 18th, there’s a dead gap of very small, poor surf. There’s nothing here for the beginner or the casual surfer. With the strong winds and poor quality, this setup at Perran Sands looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing for most of the period.

Stay frosty, and don’t force it. The forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a lean stretch.

Rusty.

Read more