Port Isaac Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Port Isaac over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. The first ten days or so are looking pretty grim. We’ve got a long, dry spell with barely a ripple. From Saturday the 22nd all the way through to Wednesday the 26th, it’s flat calm with tiny dribbles of swell. The water’s unusually warm for this time of year, sitting at 66°, which is over 4° warmer than normal, but that’s all the good news I’ve got for that period. You’ll be staring at a glassy pond with a light breeze, not a wave worth paddling for.

Thursday the 27th sees a little bump, with a 3ft swell from the SW, but the period is a short, weak 8 seconds and the energy is only moderate (138). It’s clean in the morning, but there’s a risk of thunderstorms, and honestly, it’s just not doing enough to get excited about.

Friday the 28th brings a bit more size – 5ft to 7ft – but the wind is howling from the NW, smashing it onshore. By the afternoon, it’s 25 mph and lumpy. The energy ramps up (481), but for a paddle surfer, it’s a mess. If you’ve got a kite, this might be your window, but for a surfboard, it’s a write-off.

The stretch from the 29th of August through to the 3rd of September is a real mix of onshore and cross-shore winds, with the swell bouncing between 3ft and 5ft. The period stays short, mostly 6-8 seconds, keeping the waves weak and crumbly. Nothing consistent, nothing clean.

Now, here’s the one that stands out. On Thursday the 3rd of September, we get a brief window of hope. The morning shows a 5ft swell from the W, period 8 seconds, and a clean cross-off breeze from the SW at 9 mph. The energy is strong (308), and the conditions are actually described as "good." For a beginner-friendly spot like Port Isaac, this is the best you’re going to get in the whole 16-day run. The wave direction is WNW, which is what this break likes. It’s clean, it’s manageable, and it’s the only morning that looks genuinely surfable. Crowds are always a possibility here, so get in early.

After that, it falls apart again. Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th bring more size, up to 5ft, but the wind is back on it, making it choppy and uninviting. The energy is big (584 on the 5th), but it’s a groundswell with an 11-second period, which can be a bit tricky at a beach break, and the wind just kills it.

The long-range stuff around the 5th and 6th of September is a no-go: strong winds, onshore, and dropping swell.

So, bottom line: if you’re itching for a paddle, mark your calendar for Thursday morning, the 3rd of September. It’s the only day that’s worth a look. The rest of the time, you’re better off waiting for the next forecast to change. It won’t stay this quiet forever.

Rusty.

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