The Breakwater-St Ives Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a brew and let's have a look at what's on the cards for The Breakwater-St Ives over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, mate, the outlook is a tough one. We've got energy coming through, but the wind is going to be a real bastard for most of it, keeping things messy. The water temp is sitting pretty average for the time of year, nothing out of the ordinary there.

The first bit of action worth talking about is Saturday the 29th of August. Overnight and into the morning, a solid 8 ft SW swell rolls in, but it's getting hammered by a near gale-force wind (37 mph) from the SW. The combined energy is moderate at 574, but it's just too blown out to bother with. By the afternoon, the swell pushes up to 12 ft from the WSW with a combined energy of 2575—that's strong energy—but a 28 mph cross-shore wind is making a right mess of things with chop. That's for experts only, and even then, it looks more like a kite-surfing session than a paddle surf.

Sunday the 30th is more of the same. A 6 ft to 8 ft WSW swell with fresh breezes and cross-off winds. The energy sits in the 592 to 734 range (moderate), but the quality is poor to marginal at best.

Now, Monday the 31st sees a 10 ft W swell with 10-second periods and strong energy (1454), but it’s a fresh cross-onshore. That’s lumpy and blown out. Not one for the log.

The real standout, and the only one I'd genuinely get excited about, is Friday the 4th of September. Friday morning, we get a 7 ft W swell with a 13-second period—that’s groundswell, proper long-period energy. The combined energy is strong at 1339. The wind is a 22 mph cross-off from the WSW. That's clean. At a point break like The Breakwater-St Ives, this long-period groundswell should wrap in nicely, offering some proper shape. It's inconsistent here though, so don't expect a wave every minute, but when the sets come through, they'll have some punch. The crowds are rated as *sometimes* busy, so keep your eyes peeled. It's a call for intermediate to experienced surfers. The afternoon sees the wind turn cross-shore and go lumpy, so make the most of the morning.

The following week, starting the 9th of September, the wind goes nuts again. We’ve got 8 ft to 10 ft swells on the 9th and 10th, but both days are smashed by near gale-force winds from the WSW. By the 11th and 12th, the swell drops right off to under 3 ft, and we’re back to small, choppy conditions with strong cross-onshore winds. Not worth the drive.

To be blunt, the 16-day window is pretty grim. Friday morning the 4th of September is your one true shot at a decent wave. The rest of it is a write-off due to wind and mess. Forecasts can change, but right now, keep your expectations low.

Rusty.

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