The Breakwater-St Ives Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for The Breakwater-St Ives. It’s a point break, and a fairly exposed one at that, with an optimum swell from the NW. We’ve got a 16-day window ahead, and honestly, it’s a bit of a slow burner.

The first real flicker of life doesn’t show up until the very end of the month. The whole first week and a bit is pretty grim. From Friday the 24th right through to Thursday the 30th of July, it’s all crossed-off, onshore slop, tiny windswell, and a lot of “poor surf conditions.” The combined energy is weak, barely cracking 100 (mostly 39-72), and the period is short. It’s not worth getting wet.

Now, Friday the 31st of July is where things get a touch more interesting. The morning stays tiny at 1ft, but that afternoon, a 4ft swell from the W with a lovely long 12-second period rolls in. The combined energy jumps to 330 (moderate), and we get a clean, cross-off breeze from the SSW. That’s the first real glimmer of hope. The water is 64°, which is about 2° warmer than normal for this time of year, so it’s not bad.

Then comes the standout. Saturday the 1st of August. The morning brings a solid 7ft swell from the WSW, with a 12-second period, and the combined energy is a whopping 1160 (strong). The wind is light from the W, making for a light cross-shore with just small ripples. That’s a proper groundswell, and for a point break like The Breakwater, that’s the ticket. The waves will have proper shape and punch. Now, at 7ft, this is getting into expert territory, so if you’re not confident, give it a miss. It’s the best on offer, but it’s not a beginner’s wave. The afternoon drops a touch to 6ft, still good but with a bit of a cross-on wind.

After that, the consistency drops off again. Sunday the 2nd of August is messy with moderate cross-onshore wind and 5ft choppy stuff. Monday the 3rd is similar. Tuesday the 4th of August has a clean cross-off but a howling 25-28 mph wind, which is more kite-surfing territory than paddle surfing, really. The swell is 6ft to 7ft, but the wind is just too strong for a pleasant session.

The rest of the window into the second week sees a gradual drop in size and quality, with more lumpy, onshore conditions and smaller swells. There’s nothing else in the second week that really stands out.

So, the call is: Don’t even bother until the afternoon of the 31st of July. The real highlight is Saturday morning, the 1st of August. Get there for the 7ft WSW groundswell with light winds. It’s a proper session, but it’s one for the experienced crew. After that, it’s a bit of a gamble again.

Rusty.

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