Poldhu Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you, it’s a bit of a quiet start and a long wait for anything decent. The first real chance of a wave doesn’t pop up until a fair way into the forecast, so we’ve got a big gap of flat or near-flat conditions to sit through first.

Alright, Poldhu Cove is the only spot on the radar. The water’s sitting at 66°, which is a whopping 5° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s very unusual, you’d be leaving the thick wetsuit at home.

From July 14th all the way through to July 23rd, it’s a write-off. Swell is tiny, mostly 0.7ft to 1ft, with weak energy (energy values in the single digits to low 30s). The wind is mostly cross-off which keeps it clean, but there’s just no power to push a surfboard. You’d be better off on a longboard or just having a swim. There’s a gap of about nine days here with no real surf to recommend.

The first flicker of something bigger arrives on July 24th. Friday morning sees a pulse of 3ft swell from the west, with a period of 12 seconds, giving it a bit more grunt (energy 196). That’s a long period groundswell, which means it’ll have some shape, but it’s also prone to closing out on a beach break. The wind is a stiff 31 mph cross-off from the east, which is a near gale. That’s going to be a complete battle to paddle out in, and the surface will be messy. Not a good day for a paddle board.

The real standout, and the only one I’d bother circling on the calendar, is July 27th. Monday morning serves up 8ft of west swell (energy 802). That’s a solid, powerful westerly. The period is 8 seconds, so a shorter wind swell, meaning it’ll be a bit more bumpy and less clean than a groundswell, but there’s plenty of push. The wind is a cross-on from the south at 19 mph, which will put some chop on the face. At 8ft, this is getting into expert-only territory; it’s too big for beginners. The waves will be thumping in, so you’ll want to be on your game.

The next couple of days after that keep the size up – 7ft and 7ft on the 28th and 29th – with onshore winds, which will keep it lumpy. There’s a lot of energy in the water (over 800 in places), so it’s a powerful stretch, but it’s not going to be the clean, glassy perfection we all dream of.

So, to sum it up: the best bet is July 27th, Monday morning, at Poldhu Cove. It’s a big, powerful west swell, but it’s for experts only thanks to the size and the bumpy wind. The rest of the window is mostly flat or a long wait for something that’s more of a wrestle than a ride.

Rusty.

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