Poldhu Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you about the surf for Poldhu Cove over the next couple of weeks. I've looked over the numbers and, to be honest, it's a rough stretch. The whole 16-day period is pretty much a write-off for decent waves. The biggest issue is the wind. It's coming from the wrong direction, almost constantly onshore or cross-onshore, turning whatever swell we do get into a messy, lumpy, choppy mess.

Right from the get-go, Thursday the 27th, we’ve got small 3 ft SSW swell but it's all cross-on and choppy. The combined energy is weak (70), and it’s just not worth paddling out for.

Friday the 28th sees the swell bump up to 5 ft in the morning and 7 ft in the afternoon from the WSW, with the energy climbing into the moderate range (204 to 368). But the wind is howling at 22 to 25 mph from the WSW, making it a lumpy, fresh cross-onshore mess. It's a total no-go for a surfboard.

Saturday the 29th is a write-off. We’re looking at an 8 ft SW swell in the morning with a near-gale 34 mph onshore wind, and by the afternoon it’s 12 ft of WSW swell with a 28 mph cross-onshore. That’s strong wave energy (643 and 2133), but the quality is garbage. Unless you’re a kitesurfer, stay on the beach.

Sunday the 30th isn't any better, with 6 ft to 7 ft of wind-affected slop. The onshore winds are still fresh, and there's even a risk of thunderstorms.

We limp into Monday the 31st. The swell is 8 ft from the west with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy is strong (1599). The wind finally goes cross-shore at 16 mph from the WNW. The forecast calls it a "marginal" situation. It’s probably too big for beginners at that size, and the cross-shore chop will make it a battle. It’s the best of a bad bunch, but that's not saying much.

After that, it’s a long, bleak stretch. From Tuesday the 1st of September right through to the end of the period on Friday the 11th, we’re stuck with small to medium swells constantly getting chopped up by onshore or cross-onshore winds. There's a period from the 2nd through the 4th where the swell drops to under 3 ft with weak energy, but the wind doesn’t give us a break. Even when we get a decent 7 ft west swell on the 5th, the onshore wind from the SW spoils it. The only thing worth noting is a long-period 12-second groundswell on the afternoon of the 9th, but it’s coming with a moderate cross-onshore wind, so it’ll be choppy. A longer period like that means better shape, but it's still going to be messy.

Look, this area is inconsistent at the best of times, and a run like this is just part of the deal. The water temperature is a touch warmer than normal at 65°, but that’s no consolation when the surf is this poor. We just have to wait for the wind patterns to shift. Forecasts change, but for now, there's nothing on the cards worth getting excited about.

Rusty.

Read more