Salcombe Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Salcombe's got lined up for us over the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with you – it's a pretty grim run overall. We're looking at a solid two-week stretch where the surf just isn't cooperating. The vast majority of days are written off, with the waves either tiny, messy, or blown out. There's no real standout period, and the consistency is just not there. It's one of those spells where you might be better off doing the gardening or fixing that leaky roof. Remember, forecasts can shift, but as it stands, this is a tough watch.

The kick-off on Tuesday the 4th of August is a write-off. We've got a 4ft cross-shore mess on the cards with a fresh 19 mph wind making a lumpy chop. Not worth a second look. That theme carries on through Wednesday and Thursday – the swell's around, like a 5ft on Wednesday morning, but the energy is moderate (264) and the winds just aren't playing ball to give us anything clean. By Friday the 6th, we're down to knee-high dribble at 1.0ft, and while it's glassy, there's nothing to ride.

The weekend and the first half of the following week are completely flat or near-flat. Saturday and Sunday the 7th and 8th of August offer nothing but tiny, wind-affected ripples. Then from Monday the 9th through to Wednesday the 11th of August, we're looking at tiny scraps of swell, mostly under 2ft, with energy levels dropping below 100, which is as weak as it gets. This is a proper dead zone.

There's a slight pulse of energy around the 12th to 14th of August, with combined energy creeping into the low hundreds, but it's all cross-onshore and lumpy with a fresh breeze. The swell heights sit around 2ft to 4ft, but the quality is just poor. It's the kind of stuff you'd drive past.

The most interesting day, and I use that term very loosely, is on Monday the 17th of August. We see a bit of size arrive with a 5ft to 6ft swell. The energy jumps to a strong 426, which is the highest we see all period. The wind is a clean cross-off, which would usually have me buzzing. But the forecast still calls it "marginal" or "poor" surf conditions, and at 6ft it's getting a bit much for beginners. Tuesday the 18th of August sees the biggest swell of the window, a solid 7ft from the west with a 10-second period and a strong offshore wind (25 mph). That's expert territory – powerful, clean, but a real battle to paddle into. The combined energy is very strong at 818, so there's plenty of water moving, but the forecast is still calling it poor. For the average surfer, these are days to watch from the cliffs, not to paddle out.

So, there you have it. A long, dry spell with precious little to get excited about. If you're desperate, keep an eye on the 17th and 18th of August, but temper your expectations. This is one of those times when the ocean says "not today."

Rusty.

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