Port Isaac Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, let’s talk about what’s happening at Port Isaac over the next couple of weeks. I’ve got to be honest, it’s not looking like a great stretch of time for us. The ocean’s going to be pretty stingy with the good stuff.

The main issue is that nearly every day in the forecast is flagged as "poor surf conditions." Even when we get a bit of swell, the wind is usually blowing in the wrong direction or just too strong to make it fun. We’re looking at a long, quiet period, so don’t plan a trip around anything special.

Let’s break it down day by day. Starting now, from Monday the 24th through to the end of August, it’s tiny. You’re looking at waves barely hitting 0.7ft to 2ft from the west or west-southwest, with periods down around 4 to 10 seconds. The combined energy is a weak 13 to 140. The wind is bad news, mostly cross-off or cross, and on the 29th it picks up to a Fresh Breeze of 22 mph from the west-southwest with rain showers making things lumpy. Between the 24th and the 30th, that’s a solid week of basically nothing worth paddling out for.

As we move into the first week of September, the swell does start to show up more, but it’s still a letdown. From the 31st of August through to the 3rd of September, we see the combined energy climb into the hundreds and even low thousands (up to 1908 on the morning of the 31st), with swell heights reaching 5ft to 10ft. The problem? It’s almost always cross-on or cross-off winds, and the quality is shot. The 31st of August brings a 10ft west swell at 11 seconds, but with a fresh cross-shore wind at 22 mph, it’s just a lumpy windswell mess. The 5th of September morning is the only time the forecast kicks up a "marginal" call with a 5ft west swell at a decent 12 seconds and a cross-off wind. The combined energy is a moderate 711, and the surf should be clean. That’s the single best window in the entire 16-day run. Don’t get too amped though – it’s only a 1 out of 10, so keep your expectations in check.

Later on, the 7th of September brings a monster 12ft west swell with a very long period of 17 seconds and a combined energy of 7992 – that’s powerful energy. But the wind is a cross-on 16 mph, making it a choppy, closed-out mess only for the brave and well-equipped. It’s way beyond beginner territory.

So, the honest truth? There are no big standouts. If you’re set on getting a session in, the morning of the 5th of September early is your best bet at Port Isaac. You’ll want to be there for a 5ft west swell with light cross-off winds, giving you the cleanest chance. Just know the quality is still marginal. For the rest of the time, leave the board in the shed. The crowds shouldn’t be heavy because there’s nothing to crowd. For anything else, this setup looks way more interesting for the kite surfers than anybody with a paddle.

Stay patient.

- Rusty

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