Whipsiderry Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle at Whipsiderry (Newquay). This is one of those stretches where you’d be better off oiling up the kite or just staring at the horizon from the cliffs. The first real surfable pulse doesn’t even show up until around Wednesday the 12th, and even then it’s only just about enough to get wet. The start of the window is a write-off – tiny dribbles, no energy, clean but barren. The only thing worth getting excited about is that one morning at the end of the run, which has a bit of size and clean conditions. Let’s walk through it.

Right now, the sea is flat. Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th have nothing but ankle-biters around 0.7 ft to 1 ft, with the weekend seeing some glassy conditions but zero push. Sunday the 9th and Monday the 10th are similar – a bit of cross-onshore chop, swell barely ticking over, and energy readings in the low teens to forties. Tuesday the 11th brings a fresh offshore breeze from the southeast, cleaning things up, but the swell is still a pathetic 1 ft. Not worth the rubber.

Then, finally, a pulse of life. On Wednesday morning the 12th, a 3 ft west swell with a 10-second period shows up, and the combined energy reads 125 – moderate, but at least it’s something. That morning is clean with a light offshore breeze, and it’s surfable but very ordinary. The afternoon, though, turns onshore from the northwest and kills it. Thursday the 13th stays onshore all day, but the swell builds a bit – 3 ft to 4 ft, with the afternoon energy jumping to 272. Still, the wind ruins it. Friday the 14th brings a bit more size at 4 ft, but it’s cross-onshore and choppy, energy around 200. Not great.

The following weekend, the 15th and 16th, the swell fades back to 2 ft – small and mostly chopped up. Monday the 17th pushes back up to 3 ft to 4 ft with energy in the 140–174 range, but again, cross-onshore wind keeps it messy. Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th are your first real chance for a clean wave, but they’re small – 2 ft to 3 ft west swell with a 8-second period. Morning on Tuesday has a light offshore breeze and it’s clean, energy around 68. Wednesday morning is cross-offshore and clean with energy at 82. These are days for a longboard and a slow morning, but not a stand-out.

And then the big one. Thursday the 20th blows up with strong northerly winds – 25 mph – and the swell jumps to 5 ft, then 7 ft in the afternoon, but it’s totally onshore and messy. Energy hits 393 but it’s unsurfable chaos. But hold on to your board, because Friday morning the 21st is the standout of the whole window. A 8 ft west-northwest swell with a 9-second period, energy smashing in at a very strong 817 – that’s serious power. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the south and the report says “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s the one to circle on the calendar. At 8 ft it’s big – for experts only, too big for beginners – but for anyone with the skill and the nerve, this is the day. The water is a touch warmer than the long-term average for this time of year, about 3° above normal, so you might get away with a thinner suit if you’re brave. The afternoon on the 21st drops back to 5 ft and the wind picks up, but the morning is the peak. After that, the swell backs off into the 22nd and it fades back to onshore mush.

Honestly, if you’re keen, the Friday 21st morning is your best bet. Set the alarm, get there early, and don’t blink. Everything else is waiting for a forecast change.

Rusty.

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