10-day surf forecast with Strike Scores for Cape St Francis, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Cape St Francis is where the endless summer dream began—the right-hand point break immortalized by Bruce Brown's iconic 1966 film that launched the global surf travel movement. While the wave rarely reaches the perfection of those legendary frames, when conditions align, it still delivers long, reeling walls along the rocky point with the same magic that captivated audiences worldwide. The Bruce's Beauties section on bigger swells offers the most defined waves, and the surrounding coastline is dotted with additional breaks worth exploring. This is hallowed ground for surf history.
Best day in the forecast: 2026-08-05 with a score of 71/100 (Good)
Poor conditions overall: Average score 38/100. Look for spots with better forecasts.
Moderate alignment: Swell from 203° is 23° off optimal 180°, workable but not ideal.
Marginal size: 1.4m is 0.3m from ideal 1.6m.
Moderate period: 12s meets minimum 10s but below ideal 14s. Some groundswell energy present.
Strong offshore: 20 km/h from 307° (NW). Grooming but may make paddling difficult.
Groundswell-dominant conditions (clean, long-period waves).
Surfable but not special at Cape St Francis. The 1.4m swell from 203° is workable, but conditions aren't ideal. Fine if you're local, but not worth a dedicated trip.
1.4m (4.6ft) swell from 203° (SSW) at 12s period
Poor alignment: Swell from 220° is 40° off optimal 180°, barely within workable range 150°-210°.
Good size: 1.8m is within 15% of ideal 1.6m.
Perfect period: 15s is at or above ideal 14s. Long-period groundswell with maximum power.
Light offshore: 9 km/h from 295° (WNW). Grooming the wave face beautifully.
Good surfable conditions at Cape St Francis. 1.8m swell from 220° with manageable wind. Solid session guaranteed.
1.8m (5.9ft) swell from 220° (SW) at 15s period
Poor alignment: Swell from 228° is 48° off optimal 180°, barely within workable range 150°-210°.
Too big: 4.5m exceeds maximum 2.5m. Risk of closeouts.
Onshore/cross-shore: 15 km/h from 259° (W). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 260°-340°.
Poor conditions at Cape St Francis. Either swell direction (228°), size (4.5m), or wind (15 km/h from 259°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
4.5m (14.8ft) swell from 228° (SW) at 15s period
Local wind-generated waves (choppy, short-period)
Poor alignment: Swell from 225° is 45° off optimal 180°, barely within workable range 150°-210°.
Too big: 3.7m exceeds maximum 2.5m. Risk of closeouts.
Perfect period: 14s is at or above ideal 14s. Long-period groundswell with maximum power.
Onshore/cross-shore: 12 km/h from 239° (WSW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 260°-340°.
Surfable but not special at Cape St Francis. The 3.7m swell from 225° is workable, but conditions aren't ideal. Fine if you're local, but not worth a dedicated trip.
3.7m (12.1ft) swell from 225° (SW) at 14s period
Poor alignment: Swell from 223° is 43° off optimal 180°, barely within workable range 150°-210°.
Too big: 3.4m exceeds maximum 2.5m. Risk of closeouts.
Strong offshore: 29 km/h from 267° (W). Grooming but may make paddling difficult.
Poor conditions at Cape St Francis. Either swell direction (223°), size (3.4m), or wind (29 km/h from 267°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
3.4m (11.2ft) swell from 223° (SW) at 15s period
Poor alignment: Swell from 224° is 44° off optimal 180°, barely within workable range 150°-210°.
Too big: 3.8m exceeds maximum 2.5m. Risk of closeouts.
Moderate period: 11s meets minimum 10s but below ideal 14s. Some groundswell energy present.
Onshore/cross-shore: 23 km/h from 198° (SSW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 260°-340°.
Poor conditions at Cape St Francis. Either swell direction (224°), size (3.8m), or wind (23 km/h from 198°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
3.8m (12.5ft) swell from 224° (SW) at 11s period
Poor alignment: Swell from 211° is 31° off optimal 180°, barely within workable range 150°-210°.
Too big: 4.3m exceeds maximum 2.5m. Risk of closeouts.
Onshore/cross-shore: 18 km/h from 175° (S). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 260°-340°.
-10 points: Previous days of onshore wind left residual chop ("morning sickness"), reducing wave quality.
Poor conditions at Cape St Francis. Either swell direction (211°), size (4.3m), or wind (18 km/h from 175°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
4.3m (14.1ft) swell from 211° (SSW) at 11s period
Moderate alignment: Swell from 197° is 17° off optimal 180°, workable but not ideal.
Too big: 3.3m exceeds maximum 2.5m. Risk of closeouts.
Onshore/cross-shore: 13 km/h from 73° (ENE). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 260°-340°.
-7 points: Previous days of onshore wind left residual chop ("morning sickness"), reducing wave quality.
Poor conditions at Cape St Francis. Either swell direction (197°), size (3.3m), or wind (13 km/h from 73°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
3.3m (10.8ft) swell from 197° (SSW) at 12s period
Very low confidence (8-10 day forecast, conditions may change)
Good alignment: Swell from 185° is 5° off optimal 180°, still within prime range.
Marginal size: 1.7m is 0.1m from ideal 1.6m.
Perfect period: 16s is at or above ideal 14s. Long-period groundswell with maximum power.
Onshore/cross-shore: 12 km/h from 73° (ENE). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 260°-340°.
Surfable but not special at Cape St Francis. The 1.7m swell from 185° is workable, but conditions aren't ideal. Fine if you're local, but not worth a dedicated trip.
1.7m (5.6ft) swell from 185° (S) at 16s period
Poor alignment: Swell from 215° is 35° off optimal 180°, barely within workable range 150°-210°.
Too big: 2.8m exceeds maximum 2.5m. Risk of closeouts.
Perfect period: 17s is at or above ideal 14s. Long-period groundswell with maximum power.
Onshore/cross-shore: 20 km/h from 70° (ENE). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 260°-340°.
Poor conditions at Cape St Francis. Either swell direction (215°), size (2.8m), or wind (20 km/h from 70°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
2.8m (9.2ft) swell from 215° (SW) at 17s period
Open-Meteo Weather API (wind/weather data)