West Pier (Port Alfred) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s see what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks here at West Pier (Port Alfred). The swell will be kicking around, but honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The water is quite a bit colder than we’d normally expect this time of year, so you’ll want a good thick steamer.

The first real chance to get wet will be Saturday morning, the 18th. We’ve got a 4ft S swell rolling in at 12 seconds, but the wind is cross from the WSW at 6 mph. The wave energy is moderate (723), but it’s messy. It’s a bit of a write-off, to be honest.

Sunday morning, the 19th, is much the same with a 5ft SSE swell, but the wind is still cross. That afternoon, it turns cross-on and choppy, and with a 5ft SE swell, it’s not worth paddling out.

Monday the 20th sees a jump in size. The morning has a 7ft WSW swell, but it’s criss-cross. The real standout is Monday afternoon. The wind swings to a light offshore from the SSE at 6 mph, and we get a solid 5ft SE groundswell with a 12-second period. The wave energy is moderate (1188), but the conditions will be clean. That’s your best bet for the early run.

Tuesday the 21st is a tease. The morning has clean lines with a 4ft ESE swell and a light cross-offshore breeze from the NE. The afternoon gets a bit of a cross-chop as a 5ft SSW swell moves in with a 14-second period. That’s a long period, so it’ll have some punch, but the wind is a bit messy.

The next big window looks like the 27th. We’ve got a 6ft SSW swell coming in, and the wind is offshore from the NNW in the morning, and then glassy in the afternoon. That’s a solid session for experienced surfers, and the energy is moderate (1318). That’s a proper standout.

There’s a lot of big stuff in between though. The 24th and 25th see a huge 10ft to 12ft SSW groundswell. The wave energy is strong (over 5000), but it’s too big for this break. The conditions are good, but it’s for experts only. The 29th and 30th are similar, with 10ft to 12ft swells, but the wind is messy.

The 31st is a bit of a wildcard. A 8ft S swell and a 25 mph offshore wind from the W will keep it clean, but it’s a high wind. The 1st of August looks like a total write-off with fresh to gale-force winds. The 2nd of August is even worse – a tiny 2ft SSW swell and poor conditions.

So, to wrap it up: if you’re looking for clean, manageable surf, you’re aiming for Monday afternoon the 20th, or the 27th. The 24th and 25th are for the brave only. The rest is a bit of a gamble.

Rusty.

Read more