Sennen Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this is a rough one for the next 16 days at Sennen Cove (Cornwall). The finder is giving us nothing in the way of a solid recommendation, and looking at the guidance, that makes sense. This spot is very consistent for surf, but the conditions are just not lining up. We’ve got a long stretch of poor surf quality ahead, so don’t get your hopes up for anything magical.

The first surfable day shows up on Saturday the 22nd of August, but it’s a real letdown. Saturday morning we’ve got a weak 3-ft swell from the north with a short period of 6 seconds, and the combined energy is a measly 111. The wind is a cross-off from the NE at 12 mph, which keeps things clean, but the poor wave quality means it’s not worth paddling out for. The water is 65 °F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Saturday afternoon barely improves – a tiny 2-ft windswell from the north, period of 5 seconds, and energy dropping to 65. It’s surfable, but very ordinary.

Sunday the 23rd is a different story – the swell switches to a long-period groundswell from the SW at 1-ft, with a period of 14 seconds. That’s a very long period, and the energy is 70-101. The wind is offshore from the east, 12-16 mph, so the surface is clean. But here’s the kicker: that tiny swell height with a long period means it’s going to be gutless, and the main break here is exposed to the west, so the direction isn’t ideal. This is a day for the longboard or a walk on the beach, not a proper session.

From Monday the 24th through the rest of the 16 days, it’s a write-off. The wind cranks up on Monday with 28 mph offshore, but the swell is just 1-ft – it’s hard to paddle into and the surf quality is poor. By Wednesday the 27th, we get a big spike in energy with a 10-ft south-southwest swell, but the wind is a strong cross-onshore from the SW, so it’s lumpy and messy. That 10-ft is only for experts, and the poor conditions mean it’s not worth the risk. The rest of the week into September is a repeating pattern of onshore winds, cross-onshore lumps, and poor surf quality. The combined energy sometimes hits 1000+ (like the 1037 on the 27th morning), but the wind is always wrong.

There are no standouts here. Not a single day where the stars align. The forecast is reliable for the first week, and it’s just grim. The second week is no better, with more onshore winds and messy conditions. The only bright spot is that Sennen Cove is a very consistent break, so this blank run is unusual, and forecasts can change – but for now, don’t bother.

Rusty.

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