Cape St Francis
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.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- S (180°)
- Direction range
- 150° - 210°
- Size range
- 0.8m - 2.5m
- Ideal size
- 2.0m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- WNW (300°)
- Offshore range
- 260° - 340°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid
- Optimal range
- 0.5m - 1.8m
Water temp
17°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
5/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: Beach access from town.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tide is best at Cape St Francis?
Cape St Francis works best on a mid tide, ideally between 0.5m and 1.8m on the local tide chart. The tide chart above shows today’s strike window.
What wind direction is offshore at Cape St Francis?
Offshore wind at Cape St Francis blows from the WNW (300°). Anything in the 260° to 340° range grooms the faces; outside it, expect chop or bumpy conditions.
What swell size and direction work best at Cape St Francis?
Cape St Francis wants S swell (150° to 210°) between 0.8m and 2.5m, with a period of 14s or more for quality waves.
When is the best time of year to surf Cape St Francis?
The main season at Cape St Francis is Apr-Sep. A secondary window runs Mar, Oct. Autumn-Winter. Indian Ocean swells.
How do I get to Cape St Francis?
Fly into PLZ, then allow about 90 minutes by road. Beach access from town.
What kind of wave is Cape St Francis?
Cape St Francis is a point break, a right-hander. Difficulty is rated 5/10.
Best Season
Peak: Apr-Sep
Secondary: Mar, Oct
Autumn-Winter. Indian Ocean swells.
Getting There
🤙 Strike Specialist
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