Poldhu Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me tell you about Poldhu Cove. Look, I'm gonna level with you: this 16-day stretch is a tough one to call for the usual paddling. There is no good surf on the cards for the first week and a half. We’re looking at a gap from today, Saturday the 22nd, all the way through until Thursday the 3rd of September where the conditions just aren't coming together. Small swell, onshore muck, or just plain messy. It's pretty bleak for a wave lover.

Let's walk through it. Saturday (22nd) through Monday (24th) is a no-go. We're talking tiny 0.7ft to 2ft swells from the west and southwest, all messed up by a stiff easterly breeze. The wave energy is pitiful, barely hitting 74. Not worth waxing the board.

Tuesday the 25th sees a tiny bump with a 2ft W swell and a period of 10 seconds, but the wind is all wrong, making it a cross-shore chop. The energy ticks up a bit to 117, but it's still a mess.

Wednesday the 26th brings a risk of thunderstorms and a short-period 3ft to 4ft onshore slop from the SSW, energy up to 213. That's not surf, that's a washing machine. Thursday the 27th gets a big jump in swell – 10ft from the west – but that's no good here. That's a 1730 energy reading, but the onshore winds are howling and making it a complete dog's breakfast. It's over 8ft, so even if it was clean, that's expert territory, and it's not clean.

This pattern of big, windy, messy surf continues. Friday the 28th has another 10ft pulse, this time from the NW, with a 1478 energy reading, but again it's trashed by a strong cross-onshore wind. Saturday the 29th still holds onto some size (8ft) and moderate energy (1123), but the wind is still a problem. We get a bit of a reprieve on Sunday the 30th with smaller 3ft to 4ft swells, but the wind swings onshore from the south-southwest and southwest.

Now, hold on. I see a little light on the horizon. September the 2nd shows a big jump. Wednesday morning the 2nd, we get another 10ft swell from the WSW with a 10-second period, energy cranked up to 1541. The commentary even says "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions," which is more interesting than "poor." But the wind is still cross-onshore.

But THEN... Friday the 4th of September. This is the one. Friday morning. The swell is a solid 12ft from the WSW, with a 10-second period. The combined energy is a massive 2094. The wind is forecast to be a cross-shore from the northwest, not a full onshore mess. And here's the kicker: the forecast gives it a strong "11 out of 10" rating, saying the wind and tide are favorable for the size. The only caveat is that with an 12ft swell, Poldhu Cove is strictly for the experts. The energy is huge. The crowd profile says "sometimes" so you might have a few other keen chargers out there. The morning looks like the pick, as the afternoon wind picks up and the swell drops slightly to 7ft with a longer 11-second period, but the wind goes cross-on again.

Before that, the morning of Thursday the 3rd is an absolute monster – 13ft from the WSW with 3348 energy – but it's straight onshore and dangerous. Don't even think about it.

So, the long and short of it is: we scrap the first week and a half. You're looking at two potential windows: the marginal morning of Wednesday the 2nd, or the standout, bigger, and cleaner Friday the 4th. For the average punter, it's a blank run. If you're a grommet or a beginner, don't even look at this forecast. For the experts, keep your eyes peeled on the 4th of September and the morning session, but don't hold your breath until then. Forecasts can change, but right now it's a waiting game.

Rusty.

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