The Breakwater-St Ives Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer down at The Breakwater-St Ives.

To be honest, we’re looking at a pretty bleak stretch ahead. The surf is small and gutless for the first few days and the conditions just aren’t cooperating. Don’t get your hopes up for any decent waves until we get into the first week of September. The water temp is sitting at 63°, which is about average for this time of year, so that’s one thing you don’t have to worry about.

We start off on Tuesday, August 25, with a tiny 2ft to 2ft swell from the WNW, but the wind is a nasty cross-shore and the energy is weak (66). It’s just poor. Wednesday morning sees a bit of offshore breeze from the S at 9 mph, but the swell is a pathetic 2ft with a short period of 8 seconds, and the energy drops to 51. Nothing to bother with. Thursday the 27th has a bit more puff in the wind, but the swell is still small and messy. The afternoon sees a 3ft swell from the WSW with a moderate offshore wind, but it’s not enough to get excited about.

Friday the 28th brings a jump in size to 6ft, but the period is a short 7 seconds and the wind shifts onshore from the NNE in the morning, making it a write-off. The energy is moderate (343), but the quality is poor. Saturday the 29th is a big one, with a 10ft swell from the WSW, but the wind is howling at 19 to 22 mph. The energy is strong (989), but the conditions are only marginal. This is expert-only territory, and even then, it’s going to be a messy battle.

The whole run from August 25 right through to September 5 is a long, frustrating stretch of poor surf. The wind is almost always too strong, the periods are short, or the swell is just too big and unruly. There’s a brief window on Sunday, September 6, with a 10ft swell from the W and a 10-second period, and a moderate offshore wind. The energy is very strong (1669), and the conditions are clean. It’s a marginal call, but it’s the best we’ve got. The problem is that the swell is massive, and with a long period of 12 seconds later in the day, it’ll be a big, powerful groundswell that’s best left for the experts, especially at a point break like this. It might be too straight for the beach, but the reef and point should handle it.

The real standout, if you can call it that, is Tuesday, September 8. The swell is 10ft from the W with a very long period of 12 seconds, and the wind is a clean offshore from the SW at 19 mph. The energy is off the charts (3129). This is a seriously powerful, long-period groundswell. It’s going to be massive, clean, and lined up. But with that size and period, it’s strictly for the experienced crew. The crowd factor is listed as "sometimes", so you might have a few others out, but on a day like this, the lineup will be thin. For the rest of us, it’s a day to watch from the cliffs.

The last few days in the forecast taper off with smaller, wind-affected waves. So, the short version: don’t bother until the first week of September. If you’re a solid expert, the 8th of September is your best bet, but it’s a big, powerful swell. For everyone else, keep your board in the car and wait for the next forecast.

Rusty.

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