Salcombe Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks around Salcombe. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest, with a lot of flat spells and poor conditions to wade through before we get to anything that’ll get the heart pumping.

The first week or so is pretty grim. From Tuesday the 28th of July right through to Monday the 3rd of August, it’s all tiny, weak swell with poor surf conditions. The waves are just too small to do anything with, and the wind is mostly a cross or cross-offshore breeze that’s messing with what little shape there is. The combined swell energy is pitiful, barely cracking 80 (61) on the Tuesday morning, and it just gets smaller. You’d be better off staying in bed.

We start to see a bit of a pulse on Tuesday the 4th of August. The swell picks up to 6ft from the WSW, but the period is a short, weak 8 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 383, which is a moderate push, but the conditions are still just "surfable waves but very ordinary." The wind is a cross-offshore breeze, so it’s clean, but the quality is lacking. It’s a step in the right direction, but nothing to get excited about.

Then there’s a big gap. From Wednesday the 5th right through to Saturday the 8th, it’s back to tiny, weak waves that are frankly not worth a look. The combined energy drops right off, often under 100, and the wind is all over the place. It’s a frustrating lull.

Now, the real standout comes on Sunday the 9th of August. The swell jumps to 8ft from the WSW with a period of 7 seconds. That’s a solid, powerful swell, but the short period means it’s going to be a bit of a washing machine. The combined energy is a strong 774, which is serious power. However, the wind is a fresh cross-offshore breeze, so it’ll be clean. This is definitely for experienced surfers only – 8ft is big and powerful, and the short period will make it dumpy. The setup here is a beach, so with that much energy and a short period, it’s going to be a bit of a close-out mess. For the handful of you who are properly skilled, it could be a wild session, but for most, it’s a day to watch.

Following that, Monday the 10th of August looks interesting. The swell drops to 5ft from the W, but the period stretches to 11 seconds, giving it some proper groundswell punch. The combined energy is a strong 523, and the wind is a fresh offshore breeze from the WNW. That’s a beautiful combination. The waves will be clean and have some shape to them. The 5ft size is still manageable for intermediate surfers, but the 11-second period will mean longer lulls between sets. This is a proper standout, promising clean, powerful lines.

After that, the swell fades again through the rest of the second week. Tuesday the 11th has 3ft from the W with a 10-second period and a gentle offshore wind, which is clean, but it’s much smaller. The combined energy is 204, which is a moderate drop. It’s a nice little session, but nothing compared to the Monday.

The water temperature is sitting at 65°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The anomaly is 3°, so it’s a bit of a treat.

All in all, the best bet is Monday the 10th of August. The offshore wind and solid groundswell will make for a clean, powerful day at Salcombe. If you’re a strong surfer, Sunday the 9th will be a big, raw session, but it’s not for the faint-hearted.

Rusty.

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