Salcombe Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a brew and listen up. Rusty here, on the blower from Salcombe.

Honestly, mate, this 16-day window is a bit of a head-scratcher. We’ve got a proper long wait ahead for anything worth paddling out for. The first week looks bleak, but if you’re patient and can pick your moment, the second week throws a couple of crackers your way.

Alright, so for the next few days, forget it. From Sunday the 23rd right through until the end of the week, it’s a write-off. We’ve got tiny swell, rarely getting above 1 foot, with a cross-onshore wind that’s just chopping everything to bits. The combined wave energy is pitiful, barely hitting double digits (26). Don’t even think about it.

We finally get a glimmer on Friday the 28th afternoon. A bit of a quirky one, this. The swell picks up to about 5 feet out of the Southwest, and the wind swings offshore from the Northwest. That’s the good news – we get a window of clean, offshore surf. The combined energy jumps to a moderate 499, but the swell period is a short 9 seconds, so it’ll be a bit crumbly. Still, it’s the first surf we’ve seen, so if you're desperate, that afternoon session is your only option.

But the real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, is the morning of Saturday the 29th of August. This is where it gets serious. The swell ramps right up to a solid 10 feet from the West-Southwest. The wave energy is pumping hard (1274), so there’s plenty of grunt. However, the wind is a fresh 22 mph from the West-Southwest. It’s cross-offshore, so the faces will be clean, but that’s a lot of wind on a big swell. It’s going to be big, tough, and definitely one for experienced surfers only. Beginners, give this one a wide berth. This is big-wave territory only.

After that, the swell drops back again. Saturday the 29th afternoon sees it down to about 8 feet but still clean, and then it fades through the 30th and 31st with too much wind. By the time we get to the first few days of September, it’s flat as a pancake again with tiny swell and no energy. Another blank run of surf.

Now, for the final pay-off. Keep your eyes on Friday the 4th of September. This one is the pick of the lot. The morning starts a bit messy with a 8 feet swell (888 energy) and a moderate breeze, but the afternoon is the absolute winner. The swell settles back to a clean 7 feet from the West-Southwest, the wind drops to a glassy light air, and the conditions are clean. The wave energy is still solid (661). It won’t be the biggest, but with those conditions, it’ll be a dreamy session with some proper shaped waves. That Friday afternoon is where it’s at.

There is also a mention for the 6th of September morning. A 7 feet swell with a gentle breeze and clean conditions, giving a good wave (697 energy). A solid backup option if you miss the Friday.

So, to wrap it up: It’s a long, dry spell until the 28th, but then we get a few windows. The big, dangerous stuff hits on the 29th morning for the experts. But the one to circle on the calendar is the afternoon of Friday the 4th of September – that’s your best shot at a clean, fun, and punchy session.

Rusty.

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