Portreath Harbour Wall Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s happening with the surf over the next couple of weeks.

First up, the overall pattern is pretty grim for a while. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak swell and mostly onshore or cross-off winds that just won’t line up. The water temp at Portreath Harbour Wall is sitting at 62°, which is about average for this time of year, nothing to write home about.

Now, the first hint of anything surfable comes on Friday, July 10th in the morning. We’ve got a clean 3ft swell rolling in from the west with a cross-off breeze from the east. The combined energy is moderate (136), but the waves are small and ordinary. It’s not going to be anything memorable, just a knee-high dribble to stretch the arms. The period is short at 9 seconds, so no real power behind it. Saturday and Sunday stay tiny, with the swell dropping to 2ft and 3ft respectively, and the wind picks up, so it’s not worth getting excited about.

The whole of the first week is tough. We’ve got a solid gap of several days with no real recommendations. Monday and Tuesday look poor, with swell heights under 3ft and fresh breezes making things messy. On Wednesday and Thursday mornings, a bit of swell tries to push in, but it’s wind-affected and the period is rubbish.

Here’s the standout, and it’s the one to keep an eye on. Saturday, July 18th morning. The swell height jumps to 5ft from the west, with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy is very strong (415). This is a proper groundswell event for the reef at Portreath Harbour Wall (United Kingdom). It’s onshore though—northwest wind at 12 mph—so it’ll be bumpy and choppy. This is only for experienced surfers; 5ft is getting towards the limit for beginners, and the onshore wind will make it a bit of a wrestle. The afternoon pushes to 6ft, so even bigger, but again, wind-affected. If you’re an expert and can handle a bit of chop, Saturday morning is the best you’ll see. The swell direction from the northwest matches the optimum for this reef, which helps.

Sunday, July 19th backs off a bit to 4ft, with the wind still onshore and fresh, so quality is poor. Then Monday, July 20th, we get 5ft swell from the west-northwest but with a cross-onshore wind, so it’s choppy again. The period sits at 8 seconds, so it’s a windswell, not the cleanest.

From July 22nd onwards, we see another drop in size. The swell fades to 3ft and smaller, with cross-onshore winds and lumpy conditions. There’s a glimmer on Friday, July 24th morning with 3ft and a longer period of 10 seconds, but the wind is cross-onshore and the energy is moderate (242). It’s not a day to put in the diary.

Overall, it’s a bleak outlook. The reef needs a clean, decent-sized swell with offshore wind, and we’re just not getting it in this forecast. The best bet is the 18th for the bigger swell, but expect a battle with the wind. For the rest, honestly, it’s a bit of a write-off. If you’re desperate, there’s always a chance things change, but right now, I’d leave the board in the car.

Rusty.

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