The Breakwater-St Ives Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at the stretch ahead for The Breakwater-St Ives.

Right off the bat, it's grim. We've got a long dry spell stretching from Tuesday the 25th of August right through to Saturday the 30th of August. The waves are barely ankle-snappers at best, with cross-shore breezes and a total lack of energy, so I wouldn't even bother paddling out. The water temp is sitting at 63°F, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, nothing unusual there.

Things finally start to wake up on Sunday morning, the 30th of August. We get a solid 5ft swell rolling in from the west with a clean offshore southerly wind. The combined energy is moderate at 413, and the period is 9 seconds, giving it some decent shape. This is the first sign of life, but it's not a standout. The swell direction from the west is a fair match for the break's optimum from the northwest.

Tuesday the 1st of September sees a big jump in size, but it comes with strong winds. We're looking at a massive 10ft swell from the west-southwest on Tuesday morning, with moderate energy (1230). By the afternoon it's pumping with a combined energy of 2023, but that strong breeze at 25 mph makes it a messy, expert-only affair. This is not the one to run out for unless you're a pro and like getting hammered.

The real standout window, and the best on offer, is Saturday the 5th of September. The swell is a solid 10ft from the west-southwest with a period of 9 seconds and very strong energy (1265) in the morning, building even more in the afternoon (1553). However, this is only going to be for experts, as it's over 8ft and it's a cross-shore wind at 19 mph. It'll be lumpy and challenging. Not a classic clean day.

Then, we get a real gem peeking through. Tuesday the 8th of September morning looks like a proper winner. The swell is 5ft from the west, but the wind switches to a light southerly offshore at just 3 mph. That is glassy conditions. The combined energy is at a moderate 376, and the period is 9 seconds. This is the standout for the intermediate crowd. It's clean, manageable, and the offshore breeze will hold the waves open. The Breakwater-St Ives is a point break, and with that long-period groundswell, it should line up beautifully. Be aware, the crowds are "sometimes" an issue here, so get in early.

The Sunday the 6th of September afternoon also deserves a mention. A 7ft swell from the west, with a fresh 22 mph offshore southerly wind. The energy is moderate (708), but the offshore strength will make for some steep, powerful waves, better suited to the more experienced.

The long-range build-up around the 9th of September is promising but less certain. We see a 8ft west swell with a period of 11 seconds pushing through, but it's held up by a cross-shore wind, making it lumpy.

So, the bottom line? The first week is a complete write-off. Hold tight. The best bet for a clean, fun session without needing a death wish is Tuesday the 8th of September morning at The Breakwater-St Ives. The big, wild stuff on the 5th is for the brave and the experts only.

Rusty.

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