Sennen Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with the look ahead for our waters.

We’ve got a bit of a flat spell to start, so don’t rush to wax up just yet. The first proper chance to get wet doesn’t arrive until Wednesday the 12th, and even then it’s pretty ordinary. After that, we’re looking at a long stretch of poor conditions with only a few flickers of hope, before things finally come alive right at the tail end of the window.

Sennen Cove is the only spot on the menu, and it’s a bit of a tease. The opening week is grim. Monday the 10th through Tuesday the 11th are write-offs with tiny, weak swell (combined energy around 87-89) and messy cross-shore winds. Wednesday morning the 12th shows a glimmer with a clean 3 ft swell from the WSW, period at 10 seconds, and light cross-off breezes, but the energy is still moderate at best (166) and the conditions are described as "very ordinary". It’s surfable, but you won’t be bragging about it.

From Thursday the 13th right through to Monday the 24th of August, it’s a brutal run. The swell tries to pick up to 3 ft to 4 ft, but it’s constantly chopped up by moderate to fresh cross and cross-onshore winds. The wave quality is poor, and the energy readings hover in the weak to moderate range (130 to 322). The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no shock there, but the onshore flow is a real killer. The one bright spot is Friday the 21st afternoon and Saturday the 22nd morning, where we finally get some clean, offshore winds from the ESE, but the swell is pathetic at 2 ft (energy 128-177). It’s a clean knee-high dribble, not worth rushing for.

But hold on. Monday the 24th afternoon sees a big shift. The swell jumps to 7 ft from the SW with a short 6-second period, and the energy reading hits a solid 328. The wind goes light and cross-off, making it clean. This is the one. This is the standout. It’s going to be a proper, powerful closeout at the beach, but it’s clean and punchy. Tuesday the 25th morning keeps the run going with a 6 ft swell from the WSW, offshore wind from the East, and an energy reading of 419. Conditions are described as "good surf". If you’re an expert, Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning are your only real windows across the whole 16 days. Beginners should sit this one out—that 7 ft swell is too big and will be dumping hard.

The long wait is brutal, but the payoff at the end is real. Hold tight.

- Rusty

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