West Pier (Port Alfred) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s have a proper look at what’s on the table for Port Alfred over the next couple of weeks. The first few days are nothing to write home about – we’re looking at a bit of a flat, messy start with only small, weak swell and funky wind. We’ve got a solid window of bigger, more powerful swell coming after that, but it’s going to be tricky with the wind.

The real standout here, the session you should keep in your mind, is Friday the 28th of August at West Pier (Port Alfred). It’s not perfect, but it’s the cleanest, most powerful option we see. That morning we’re looking at a glassy, clean start with a 5ft SSW groundswell rolling in with a very long period of 16 seconds. This is real, deep ocean energy, and the combined energy is strong at 1295. This is a proper groundswell, so expect long, powerful lines that will be best off the pier itself. The water is much colder than normal for this time of year at 58°.

Before we get to that gem, the first half is a bit of a write-off. Saturday the 15th has tiny 2ft swell with weak energy (183), and the wind is all over the place. It stays small and onshore through the weekend. Monday the 17th sees a pulse of 4ft to 5ft SW swell, but those winds are cross-on or cross-shore, so it’s going to be lumpy and marginal. The energy picks up to a moderate 590-809, but the conditions are poor. Tuesday the 18th is more of the same – waist-to-chest high but choppy.

Wednesday the 19th is where things start to get interesting in size, but not in quality. We see 7ft SSW swell kicking in with strong energy (1342), but it’s still cross-shore and cross-on, making for a bumpy ride. This stuff is really too big for beginners anyway. Thursday the 20th stays up in the 6ft to 7ft range, still with messy wind.

Friday the 21st is a warning sign – 8ft SSW swell (energy 2440) with a fresh cross-shore wind. This is expert territory and the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing due to the bumpy wind. Saturday the 22nd to Sunday the 23rd gets wild: we see 8ft to 12ft swell with very strong energy (up to 4883). The wind is fresh to strong and cross-shore, making a messy, lumpy, dangerous mess. This is not for surfing, this is for watching.

Monday the 24th offers a window of dream conditions – glassy, 10ft SSW groundswell (energy 4078) – but it’s just too big for the break, which is a shame. Only experts on a big, forgiving board would even think about it.

After that, things drop back down. Wednesday the 26th morning sees clean, offshore wind from the NW with a 5ft SSW swell, but the energy is moderate (725). A solid, clean option for intermediate to advanced crew, but the arvo gets smashed by onshore wind. Friday the 28th morning is our true gold as mentioned – glassy, 5ft, 16-second groundswell. It’s a fantastic long-period pulse, so the paddle out will be easy between sets, but the waves will be powerful and racy. This will be best at the point or around the pier, not the beach.

Crowds at West Pier can be a problem *sometimes*, so get there early for that Friday morning session.

The last few days into the end of August look like a return to smaller, messy conditions with moderate energy. Nothing special.

So, mark your calendar for Friday the 28th of August at dawn. That’s your best bet in the whole window. It’s not guaranteed, but the signs are good.

Rusty.

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