Poldhu Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Poldhu Cove.

To be honest, it’s a grim run for the next couple of weeks. That first glimmer of something surfable is a long way off, and most of the time we’re looking at a whole lot of nothing. The water is a bit of a surprise, though – it’s 67° and that’s much warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing your nuts off while you stare at a flat ocean.

The first real chance of a wave doesn’t show up until Thursday morning, the 13th of August. There’s a 4 ft swell rolling in from the WSW with an 11-second period, giving a moderate wave energy of 343. The wind is a gentle offshore from the NNW, so conditions will be clean. It’s a marginal call, tide-wise, but it’s the best we’ve got early on. That afternoon, the wind swings onshore and it’s game over.

Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th are a write-off – same story with fresh onshore or cross winds, lumpy, poor surf. The swell is there but it’s junk. Sunday the 16th sees tiny 2 ft waves with a short 7-second period and weak energy (42-49). Not worth paddling out for.

After that, we hit a proper dead zone. From Monday the 17th right through to Wednesday the 19th, the swell drops to 1 ft to 4 ft, but the wind is mostly cross or onshore, and the scores are all zero. The wave energy is weak, mostly under 200. It’s a long, flat stretch.

Now, the standout, and I mean the *only* standout, comes on the morning of Thursday the 20th of August. The wind drops to a glassy 3 mph from the NE, and the ocean goes flat calm. The swell is a modest 3 ft from the west, with an 8-second period, giving a moderate combined energy of 130. The comments say it’s surfable but very ordinary. Still, in this run of dross, those glassy conditions will make it look like a million bucks. The break is inconsistent, but it’s the only day you’ll find clean, rideable waves. It’s for beginners, too, so if you’re learning, that’s your window.

The rest of the forecast into the end of August is a write-off. Strong winds, onshore, lumpy, rain showers – the swell builds to 5 ft on the 27th with a very long 12-second period and a massive 624 combined energy, but it’s accompanied by a fresh onshore gale. That’s a kite-foiling day, not a paddle-surfing one. The setup is a beach, and with that wind and messy surf, it’s more interesting for the kite crew.

So, bottom line: if you want a wave, set your alarm for the morning of the 20th. Otherwise, the board stays in the van.

Rusty.

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