Poldhu Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Poldhu Cove. It’s a bit of a slow start, but there’s a real glimmer of something special if you’re patient.

The immediate picture is pretty grim for the next week or so. We’re looking at a stretch from Monday the 7th right through to the 14th of September where the conditions are just not cooperating. The wind is mostly cross or onshore, and the swell is messy. There’s a window on Tuesday morning the 8th where the waves are a manageable 5 ft from the West, but the wind is a stiff 22 mph from the NNW. It’s clean, but that’s a lot of breeze for a proper paddle. We’re looking at moderate combined energy (539) which is not enough to get excited about. The rest of that week is a write-off, with poor surf conditions and small, choppy swell. There’s a decent-sized 7 ft from the WSW on Monday morning the 7th with a strong 13-second period showing a massive 1574 combined energy, but the 12 mph WNW crosswind makes it a lumpy mess. It’s a no-go.

Now, keep your eyes on the second week. The real story starts to shape up around Tuesday the 15th of September. The morning brings a clean 5 ft swell from the West with a moderate 10-second period, combined energy of 558, and a light 9 mph cross-offshore from the North. That’s the turning point. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 64°F, which is a nice bonus for this time of year.

But the absolute standout, the one you want to circle on the calendar, is Wednesday the 16th of September. The morning is looking fantastic: a clean 5 ft from the West with a pumping 11-second period, light offshore wind from the NNE at 6 mph, and good energy (461). The afternoon is even better. It goes completely glassy – calm wind, 0 mph from the ENE. The waves will be a silky 4 ft from the West with a 11-second period and 321 combined energy. That’s a dream session for Poldhu. It’s got that long-period groundswell energy, which is perfect for this fairly exposed cove. Keep in mind, this spot is inconsistent, so when it comes together like this, you don’t want to miss it. Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th still have some size, 5 ft to 6 ft from the West, but the wind picks up to a strong 22-25 mph from the East, which will be clean but a battle.

The last big shout is Sunday the 20th of September. The afternoon session is looking very good. We’re talking a solid 6 ft from the West, 11-second period, with a gentle 9 mph cross-offshore breeze from the ESE. Combined energy is a healthy 793. That’s proper waves for a decent paddle, and the wind will have it looking clean. The morning is a touch bigger at 7 ft, but with stronger wind, so the afternoon is the pick.

The gap between the first decent surf and the real magic is about a week. Hang in there, because the 16th and 20th of September are the ones to get out of work for.

- Rusty

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