West Pier (Port Alfred) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for West Pier (Port Alfred).

We’ve got a solid run of surf coming our way, but it’s a real mixed bag of conditions. The water is sitting at 63° which is a solid 5° colder than normal for this time of year, so a good 4/3 wetsuit is the call.

The real standout window kicks off Saturday the 11th. Saturday morning, the swell is a powerful 8ft from the SSW with a nice long 12-second period, producing strong wave energy (2181). The wind is a light NNE cross-off, so it’s going to be clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers, but it’s a touch big for the learners. Saturday afternoon turns glassy with the wind dropping to nothing, and the swell stays solid at 8ft with the same SSW direction. That afternoon session is the pick of the first week by a long shot.

The next big one to keep an eye on is Thursday the 16th. Thursday morning, the wind goes glassy again, and the swell is a powerful 7ft from the SSW with a very long 14-second period. That’s a proper groundswell and the energy is pumping (1787). The long period means it’ll be a bit more walled up at the beach, but with the glassy conditions, it’ll be worth the paddle out. Thursday afternoon gets a bit choppy as the wind swings onshore.

We’ve got a massive swell event moving in for Friday the 17th, but don’t get too excited. The swell hits 15ft with a 13-second period, boosting the energy to a huge 6747, but the wind is howling at 28 mph from the WSW, making it a complete mess. It’s a full-on washing machine and not worth paddling out for. This setup is more interesting for the kite surfers than paddle surfing.

Saturday the 18th has a huge 12ft swell from the south with a 12-second period, but the morning glass-off is a tease. The wind and tide are favorable, but the forecast says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. It’s a massive amount of energy (4013), and unless you’re a chartered expert, it’s a day to watch from the shore.

Moving into the second week, Tuesday the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd are looking promising. Tuesday morning brings a clean 6ft SSW swell with a very long 15-second period, and a cross-off breeze from the NE. The energy is solid (1485). Wednesday morning is similar, with a clean 5ft SSW swell at 13 seconds, and a light cross-off wind from the west (977 energy). These are the better, more manageable sessions in the second week.

The final standout is Sunday the 26th. That’s a long way out, so keep it in the back of your mind. We’re looking at a massive 12ft SSW swell with a very long 16-second period, and the morning is clean with a light NE cross-off. The energy is enormous (6651). Just like the 18th, this is likely too big for the break, so it’s an expert-only zone if it even holds up.

The Thursday the 23rd morning session looks like the best all-rounder for the experienced surfer in the second week. It’s clean, solid, and has that long-period quality. Expect crowds here, as it’s a spot that can get busy.

Rusty.

Read more