Yzerfontein Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, gather 'round, it’s Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what the next couple of weeks are serving up for this stretch of coast. It’s a mixed bag with some proper muscle thrown in, but you’re gonna have to pick your moments.

The main story is a big pulse of south-west groundswell that’s going to unload on Sunday of this week, with waves well over the 8 ft mark. That’s expert territory, and the winds are going to be messy, cross-shores blowing at a solid 19 mph. Saturday morning though, that’s the pick of the near-term. The water’s sitting at 55°, which is unusually cold for this time of year—nearly five degrees below the norm—so get the thick rubber out.

For Saturday the 29th morning at Yzerfontein, we’ve got a clean, waist-to-chest high swell rolling in from the WSW at 5 ft with a nice 14-second period. That’s proper groundswell, and with the wind swinging ESE at just 6 mph and holding cross-offshore, the face will be clean. The combined energy is solid at 808 (moderate energy), and the break being a beach and reef setup will handle that long-period swell just fine. It’s not often you get that combo of size, period, and light offshores. This is the standout session of the first week. Keep in mind, it can get a crowd here sometimes, so get in early.

Sunday the 30th sees a big jump. The swell hits 10 ft from the SW, but the wind is howling from the south at 19 mph, cross-shore and lumpy. That’s just too big for this break, and the conditions are messy. It’s gonna be a washing machine, better suited for the kite crew than paddle surfing. The combined energy is a massive 2418 (strong energy), but for us, it’s a no-go.

The following week continues with strong SW swells but the wind stays unfriendly—mostly fresh cross-shores from the south. There’s a window on Thursday the 3rd morning with a moderate cross-offshore from the SSE and clean conditions on a 6 ft WSW swell, but the score is only marginal. Then a big long-range look: on Saturday the 13th of September, the forecast shows a promising setup. The swell is 8 ft from the WSW, and the wind drops to just 3 mph from the NW—glassy. That’s a rare sight. The period is a solid 13 seconds, which means powerful, well-shaped waves. It’s big, so it’s for experienced surfers only, but the combined energy is a thumping 2231 (strong energy). That’s the second standout of the outlook, but keep in mind it’s deep in the second week so less certain.

In between, there are long gaps of average conditions. After Saturday the 30th, the surf stays big and windy, and from the 31st to the 3rd, most sessions are rated poor or marginal. The end of the second week, from the 9th of September onward, the swell drops right off into knee-high dross. So, if you’re keen, nail Saturday morning, and keep an eye on that Sunday the 13th.

Rusty.

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