Salcombe Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let's have a look at what's on the cards for Salcombe. It's a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest. The next week or so is looking pretty grim for getting a decent wave, with a lot of strong, messy winds and lumpy conditions making it a write-off for most of us. There are a couple of windows that pop up further out, so don't lose hope entirely.

Salcombe is a sheltered spot, so it needs a decent push of energy to get going, and the crowd situation is always a factor here. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

We kick off Sunday the 30th of August, but it's a no-go. Strong cross-shore wind and a lumpy 6ft to 7ft swell with barely any energy to speak of (388 to 476). It's just a mess.

Monday the 31st of August sees a bit more size, 8ft in the morning, but the wind is still cross-offshore and strong. The combined energy gets a bit more interesting (1129), but the surf is still considered marginal at best. The afternoon drops off a bit.

The first few days of September are a real write-off. Tuesday the 1st has small, weak swell (3ft, 165 energy) and the wind is all wrong. Wednesday the 2nd is a joke with a 0.3ft, 15-second period swell - that's just a whisper - and strong cross-winds. Thursday and Friday the 3rd and 4th have some size (7ft to 7ft) and strong winds, but the quality is just poor.

Now, here's a little glimmer. Saturday the 5th of September, the morning is looking promising. A clean 4ft swell from the west (424 energy) with a gentle offshore breeze from the northwest. That's the kind of wind we want to see. It's a small window, but it could be clean. The period is 11 seconds, which is a nice groundswell, so it should have a bit of shape to it.

Then there's a big gap. From Sunday the 6th right through to Wednesday the 10th of September, it's all small, weak, or windy. The 8th of September actually has a big 12ft swell (3036 to 4055 energy), but it's a messy onshore wind and the surf is poor. That's more of a kite-surfing day than a paddle-surfing day.

The real standout, if you can wait, is Friday the 11th of September. The morning has a solid 7ft groundswell from the west (861 energy) with a clean offshore wind from the northwest. The afternoon is also good, with a 6ft swell and a moderate offshore wind. This is the best on offer for the whole outlook. The swell is a bit big for beginners, but for the rest of us, it's looking like the pick of the bunch.

So, there you have it. A lot of waiting, but a couple of decent sessions on the 5th and especially the 11th of September. Keep your eyes on that forecast.

Rusty.

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