Poldhu Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get real about Poldhu Cove. It’s a tough start, a lot of flat, small, and clean but useless days before we see any real power. The water is 65°F, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year, so that’s a nice bonus.

We begin on Friday 17th July with a pathetic 1ft, 8-second west swell and a cross-onshore wind making it choppy. Not worth a second look. Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th are still tiny—1ft and 0.7ft—but the wind turns cross-offshore, so it’s glassy. Clean, but flat. Monday 20th through to Thursday 24th July is a real slog: 0.7ft to 1ft swells, mostly clean but with barely any energy (combined energy between 4 and 33). It’s from the west, which is the right direction, but there’s just no swell.

Friday 25th July shows a bump to 3ft, but it’s a short-period 4 to 6 seconds, and the wind gets messy. Saturday 26th July is the first real glimmer. The swell builds to 4ft in the morning, then 5ft in the afternoon, from the west, with a 7-second period. The wind is clean cross-offshore from the NNW. The combined energy hits 138 and 214, so there’s some moderate push. This is the best of the first week, but the short period means it’ll be a bit weak and fat.

Now, Sunday 27th July is where it gets serious. The swell jumps to 6ft in the morning and 7ft in the afternoon, from the west, with an 8-second period. This is a solid, heavy size for a fairly exposed bay. The combined energy is 389 and 536, which is strong. The problem is the wind goes cross-shore from the NW, creating a lumpy cross-chop. It’s not clean. The surf is rated poor, and at 7ft, this is expert-only territory, especially with that chop. It’s powerful, but messy.

Monday 28th July is the standout. The morning session gives you 6ft from the west, 8-second period, with a clean cross-offshore breeze from the NNW. The combined energy is 464. This is the best combo of size and clean conditions in the entire 16-day window. The swell is still short-period, so it won’t be a long-lining groundswell, but there will be punch. The afternoon drops to 5ft and the wind goes cross-shore, so the morning is the one. After that, Tuesday 29th onwards drops back to 3ft to 4ft with clean but fading energy, and by Wednesday 30th July we’re back to 3ft and less.

So, the honest call: The best on offer is Monday 28th July morning. It’s the biggest, cleanest swell of the window with strong energy. If you’re an experienced surfer and can handle a bit of a short-period grunt, that’s your window. The Saturday 26th July afternoon is a decent second option for a small-wave cruiser. Everything else is a flat spell or too messy. It’s been a long wait, but that Monday morning should deliver a few proper ones.

- Rusty

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