Porthtowan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me have a look at what's on the table for Porthtowan over the next couple of weeks. I've gotta be straight with you – this isn't a vintage stretch for the North Coast. There's a lot of small, wind-affected days to wade through before we see anything that gets the heart pumping.

The first week is a proper struggle. We kick off on Friday the 7th with nothing to ride – just 1.0ft of weak, onshore slop. That trend carries right through the weekend and into next week. Saturday morning on the 8th is the first moment we get a glimmer, with an offshore ESE breeze grooming up that tiny 1.0ft WNW swell, but it's just too small to be a goer. You could maybe get the foam board out on Saturday afternoon when it goes glassy with 1ft, but let's be real, it's a learner's session at best. The early part of the week is a write-off for any real waves.

We finally get a pulse of energy on Wednesday the 12th. The morning brings 3ft from the west with a period of 10 seconds, and the wind is a clean cross-off from the ESE. The combined energy is a modest 126 and the surf report says it's "surfable but ordinary." That's about right. It's not going to blow your mind, but it's the first legit chance to get wet without battling pure junk. The water is sitting at 65°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that's a small win.

The week builds slowly. Thursday the 13th brings a bigger push of 4ft from the west-southwest, with a longer 11-second period and stronger energy (269), but unfortunately the wind is onshore all day, ruining any potential. Friday the 14th has a similar size swell but is choppy with cross-onshore winds. It's a frustrating pattern: the swell arrives, but the wind is a bastard.

Now, the standout – and I mean the *only* real standout – is Friday the 21st of August. This is the one day that looks worth blocking out time for. We've got a proper 7ft swell from the west-northwest, with a 9-second period. The combined energy is a chunky 620. But the real key is the wind: a light cross-off from the SSE, meaning clean conditions. That's a solid, powerful wave for competent surfers. Anything over 5ft (and this is 7ft) means beginners should stay on the sand and watch. For the experienced crew, Porthtowan on a WNW swell with light cross-off breezes can handle it, and the crowd factor here is "often," so expect company.

The run-up to that day is rough. The week prior is plagued by onshores and chop. Even the Sunday the 16th, with tiny 2ft windswell and 5-second periods, is a total no-go. The week of the 12th we just looked at is the best of a bad bunch before the 21st. After that Friday stand-out, we drop right back down into small onshore mush for the 22nd.

So, to sum it up: there's a long, dry gap of almost two weeks of nothing worth paddling out for. If you can hold out, Friday the 21st of August is your day. It's the only time the size, the wind, and the energy line up. It's big enough for good waves, but that south-southeasterly breeze will be what makes it clean. Mark your calendar, but watch the forecast – long-range calls like this are promising but never a lock.

Rusty

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