The Breakwater-St Ives Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for The Breakwater-St Ives over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I’ve gotta be straight with you – the next week or so is looking pretty grim. We’ve got a long dry spell ahead. The first real sniff of a surfable wave doesn’t show up until Friday the 18th, so that’s nearly a full week of flat, messy, or blown-out conditions to get through before we see anything worthwhile. From now until then, it’s a write-off.

Let’s break it down. We start on Sunday the 13th with a bit of swell, but it’s only 5 ft from the west with a moderate cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is moderate (519), but the call is that it’s marginal, and I wouldn’t get excited. Monday the 14th drops off fast with smaller 4 ft swell and the wind staying messy. Tuesday the 15th through Thursday the 17th is all onshore wind with building but junky swell. Tuesday afternoon sees 7 ft from the WNW but with a fresh cross-onshore that’ll turn it into a washing machine. Wednesday morning has a solid 7 ft from the west with a 10-second period, but again, that onshore wind kills it. Thursday is more of the same – 8 ft but lumpy and cross-onshore. This stretch is a no-go for a paddle board.

Then we finally get a glimpse of hope on Friday the 18th. The morning session shows a 7 ft west-northwest groundswell with a long 13-second period. The combined energy jumps right up to 1598 – that’s strong energy for sure. The wind is a cross-offshore from the west-southwest, keeping things clean. Now, this is a big swell, over 8 ft in the sets I reckon, so this is strictly for the experienced crew. The Breakwater is a point break, and that long-period west-northwest swell is going to wrap in nicely. It’s a standout for the whole outlook, but it’s a Friday, and the water is a touch warmer than normal at 63°F. The afternoon, however, gets smashed by a strong breeze from the southwest, so it’s a morning mission only.

Saturday the 19th drops back into mediocrity with cross-shore winds and messy conditions. Sunday the 20th morning gives us another chance. We’ve got 6 ft from the west at 10 seconds, and for the first time in a while, we see a proper offshore wind from the south-southwest. The combined energy is moderate (592), and it’s described as “expect good surf conditions.” The wind is light to moderate offshore, which is a major positive for clean waves. This is the second standout – it’s smaller than Friday, so more manageable for a strong intermediate, and it’s clean. Keep in mind, The Breakwater can be inconsistent and it’s a spot that can get busy sometimes, so plan for company if the conditions are good.

After Sunday the 20th, it fades fast. Monday the 21st sees the swell drop below 3 ft, and from Tuesday the 22nd onwards we’re into tiny, weak swells with poor wind. The combined energy drops to triple and then double digits, meaning the ocean just goes to sleep. The last week of the outlook is flat and not worth a second look. From the 21st right through to the 28th, it’s a long stretch of nothing.

So, bottom line: it’s a brutal wait, but Friday the 18th morning and Sunday the 20th morning are the two windows to circle on the calendar. Friday for the big, powerful groundswell for experts only, and Sunday for a smaller, cleaner session for the keen crew.

Stay patient.

Rusty

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