The Breakwater-St Ives Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at this one. The forecast is pretty grim for the next week and a half. The Breakwater-St Ives is normally a point break that can handle some west in the swell, but we’re looking at a long, dry spell with almost nothing to get excited about.

From August 7th right through to the morning of August 15th, there’s just nothing doing. The swell is tiny – mostly 1 to 2 feet, and the wind is all over the place, either cross-on or onshore. The energy is pathetic, reading between 20 and 50 (weak energy), so you’re basically staring at a flat lake. It’s a tough stretch, and the water temp is about average for the time of year, so no warming surprises.

The first real flicker of hope comes on the afternoon of August 15th. The swell nudges up to 4 feet from the west with a short 8-second period, and the wind goes glassy in the morning, then swings to a clean cross-off from the southwest in the afternoon. The energy jumps to 193 (moderate). It’s still only a 1/10 score, but it’s the first surfable wave we’ve seen. Not a standout, just a sign of life.

Now, August 16th morning sees 5 feet from the west at 7 seconds, with a clean cross-off. That’s a bit bigger, but the period is short and the energy is 210 (moderate). The afternoon bumps up to 6 feet (WNW, 7 seconds) and energy hits 378 (moderate). But the wind picks up to 20 km/h from the southwest, and it’s a beach-and-reef setup – honestly, this starts looking more interesting for kite surfing than a paddle. It’s marginal.

August 17th drops back into poor conditions with onshore wind. August 18th brings 6 feet from the west-southwest, but the period is a low 6 seconds and the wind is cross-shore. The energy is 267 (moderate), but it’s messy.

Then we get a highlight. The standout is August 21st. The swell jumps to 12 feet from the west-southwest, with an 8-second period. The wind is a clean cross-off from the southwest at 40-45 km/h (strong breeze). The energy is huge – 1,338 in the morning and 2,805 in the afternoon (very strong). The file says the swell is too big for this break for anything but experts. This is a big, powerful groundswell but at a short period, so it’ll be a beast. The break is a point, so it might handle the size better than a beach, but 12 feet is only for the brave. The wind is clean, but it’s strong. This is the only true standout – a promise of size and power, but you’ve got to be on your game.

The water temp is still about average for the time of year, nothing unusual.

So, overall, it’s a long wait. The first week is a total write-off. The best you’ll get is the 21st, and that’s a big one. Don’t hold your breath for anything else.

Rusty.

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