Poldhu Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a 16-day look at Poldhu Cove, and I’ll be honest with you – it’s a tale of two extremes. For the first week and a half, it’s flat and frustrating, but if you’ve got patience, the second week is where things get properly interesting.

The water's sitting at a mild 66°F right now, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year.

Right off the bat, we’re looking at a long, dry spell. From Friday the 7th right through until the morning of Monday the 17th, there’s nothing worth paddling out for. The swell is tiny – mostly around 1ft to 2ft – with a mix of cross-onshore winds and a few cleaner moments, but the energy is just not there. It’s a big gap of about ten days with no real surf on offer.

Things start to stir on Monday the 17th. The swell bumps up to 5ft to 6ft from the west, but the period is a short, choppy 6 to 7 seconds, and the wind is cross-shore. It’s got some energy (221 to 312 range), but it’s not clean enough to get excited about.

Now, here’s the standout. Tuesday the 18th is the one to circle. The morning at Poldhu Cove is a real treat. The swell is a solid 6ft from the west, and the wind goes glassy – dead calm. That’s a major positive for clean surf. The water will be a bit lumpy for beginners at that size, but for anyone with a bit of experience, it’s the pick of the period. The swell energy is strong (561), and with that glassy surface, the shoulders should be smooth.

The next morning, Wednesday the 19th, is also looking good. The swell holds at 6ft from the west, but the wind shifts to a light cross-offshore from the NNW. That’ll keep the waves clean, and the energy is still strong (453). It’s a solid follow-up session.

Then, Thursday the 20th morning is a big one for the experienced crew. The swell is 8ft from the west, with a clean cross-offshore wind. The combined swell energy is a whopping 1374 – that’s very strong. This is big, powerful surf. The period is only 8 seconds, so it’s a wind swell, but it’s going to be a wall of water. This is expert territory only; beginners should stay well clear.

Later on the 20th, the wind swings cross-onshore and the size drops, so the morning window is the key.

Looking further ahead to the 21st and 22nd, there’s more size, but the wind is onshore and strong, making it messy and lumpy. Not worth the hassle.

So, to wrap it up: the first week and a half is a write-off. The real action is packed into the 18th, 19th, and the morning of the 20th of August. The glassy morning of the 18th is the absolute best on offer – don’t sleep on it.

Rusty.

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