Cornwall.
Now
· updated 14 hours agoWest swell building from 1-2m at 6-9 seconds Thursday dawn under blown-out southwest wind, peaking Thursday evening at 2m as wind eases to strong west-southwest — this marks the week’s peak. Friday holds steady at 2m with 8-11 second period under strong west-southwest to west wind before a fading west-northwest swell drops to 1-2m Saturday, shifting from moderate to glassy north wind by evening. Sunday eases to under 1m with light north-northeast to northeast wind, then Monday sees sub-meter west swell under light east-northeast wind building to strong southeast by day’s end. Tuesday remains flat to 1m with strong southeast wind easing to light south-southwest, while Wednesday sees a slight lift to 1m west swell under light south-southwest wind. The secondary peak arrives next Thursday as west swell returns at 1-1.5m with
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About Cornwall
Cornwall is the south-west tip of England, a granite peninsula that sticks into the Atlantic and the cradle of UK surfing. The north coast is the surf coast. Newquay is the headline town. Fistral is the headline beach, the open sand bowl that hosts Boardmasters every August. Watergate Bay, just north, is the long open beach for size. Sennen Cove, an hour west near Land’s End, is the far-west backup. The Cribbar, the reef off Towan Head, is the local big-wave call.
The west to south-west Atlantic swell runs year-round, but the season is September through February when North Atlantic storms line up. Working size is 0.5 to 3 m at 9 s or longer. South-east is offshore. West and north-west wind breaks it down. The Cribbar wakes up on the biggest days of the year, a handful of locals on it when it does. Summer is small wind swell, beginner season.
Water runs 9 to 10 °C at the March low and 15 to 18 °C by August. A 5/4 with boots and gloves covers winter, a 4/3 the shoulder, a 3/2 summer. Crowds at Fistral pack out on a sunny weekend; Boardmasters week in August is the lineup at its worst. February is the peak: solid swell, water still bearable, holidaymakers gone. When Newquay is at festival capacity, drive west to Sennen or hit the dawn at Watergate.