Towan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this next 16 days out of the water is a tough one to swallow. We’ve got a long, quiet stretch ahead before the ocean finally wakes up, and even then it’s not all roses.

The first bit of real surf doesn't show up until much later. For the first week and a half, from Monday 27 July right through to the end of the first week of August, the story is about small, weak, and messy conditions. The swell energy is low, hanging around in the 20-100 range – weak all the way. Most days we’re looking at ankle to knee-high dribble, with short periods under 8 seconds. It’s not surfable. The wind is mostly cross-shore or cross-off, but it’s not enough to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. That’s a solid 12-day gap with nothing worth paddling out for.

Then, things get interesting, but it’s a double-edged sword. Around Saturday the 8th of August, we see a real jump in energy. The combined energy spikes to 943 (strong) and we’ve got 8ft of swell from the W. That’s a big jump. The water at Towan is currently about 65°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – a nice little bonus if you’re in the water.

Now, Saturday the 8th of August, the morning session has a strong offshore wind (SSE 30 km/h) and clean conditions, but with 8ft of swell, this is strictly for the experienced crew. The afternoon turns even stronger, with 40 km/h offshore winds (WSW) and the same 8ft of swell. The waves will be clean, but that wind is so strong it’s going to be a fight to get out, and paddling in is going to be a handful. The period is 8 seconds, so it’s a windswell, not a clean groundswell. This is a day for the experts only, and honestly, the setup at Towan, a sheltered beach/harbour, might be a better look for the kite surfers on a day like this.

Sunday the 9th keeps the energy up (666 – moderate to strong), with 7ft from the WNW and strong offshore winds. It’s still a big, clean wave, but again, big and clean doesn’t mean easy. It’s a marginal day for the brave.

Monday the 10th drops to a more manageable 6ft (269 energy) from the NW with a fresh offshore breeze. This is probably the pick of the lot for the stronger surfers – still big, but not as huge, and the wind is perfect for a clean face. The period is still short (6 seconds) though, so it’s a bit lumpy.

The standout, if you can call it that, is the Saturday 8th of August morning session for the laugh and the sheer power, but it's not for the faint of heart. For a surfer who knows what they are doing, the Monday the 10th of August morning offers the best balance of size and clean conditions without the insane wind. The crowd at Towan can be often busy, so expect company on the bigger days.

As we head into the second week, the swell drops off again. Tuesday the 11th keeps a bit of energy (236) but with a 5ft swell and cross-shore wind, it’s choppy and less appealing. The rest of the window looks like a return to the flat spell.

So, there’s a burst of proper, powerful surf in the second week, but it’s big, windy, and for experts only. For the rest of us, it’s a long wait. Stay patient, and check the forecasts next week.

Rusty.

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