Saturday 13 September 2025
The surf will be 4-5 feet (1.2-1.5m) at dawn, decreasing 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2m) by dusk. It will also be marginally cleaner in the morning than the afternoon. Windsurfing and kitesurfing conditions will be pretty good, and it won’t be quite as gusty as the last couple of days. Swimming conditions will be reasonable in the sheltered corners of northern and western bays in the morning, but generally the east coast will be best all day. High tide will be 8.5m at 11am, low tide will be at 5:15pm.
Sunday
Weather
Cloudy with rain and drizzle turning up around 8am and then persisting through most or perhaps all of the morning. The wind will be a force 4-5 SSE’ly through the morning, then as the drizzle fades away in the afternoon, the wind will veer SW’ly and become really strong… force 6 by late afternoon and then force 7 in the evening. Showers will likely return overnight, adding to the noise, so probably disturbing the light sleepers around the Island. Mild though, with a max of 19-20°C by day and a min of 15-16°C by night.
Surf and the Water
Super-clean 3 foot surf in the morning, only becoming slightly choppier in the afternoon. The winds will be fantastic for windsurfing and kitesurfing, but very difficult for surfers to paddle against. Swimmers will be best to wait until the afternoon and then head to a very sheltered east-coast spot like Fermain. High tide will be 7.9m at 11:40am, low tide will be around 6pm.
Next Week
A very big swell on Monday… 10 feet but pretty choppy on the west coast I’m afraid. Tuesday should maintain about 6 feet of that swell, but the subsequent days will be down to 2-4 feet (0.6-1.2m). Wind-wise, Monday and Tuesday look best for windsurfing and kitesurfing, then the rest of the week look best for surfing and swimming. Low tides will progress from around dawn on Monday to around midday on Friday. Highs will progress from around lunchtime on Monday to around dinnertime on Friday.
Beach etiquette
The sea and the beach belong to the earth (and the fish.)
Everyone has a right to use it. Nobody is more entitled than anyone else. Do so respectfully of all those around you.
Respect the environment. Take your litter home. Park considerately. Drive cautiously. Be aware of others (especially residents) in how you use the area.
All beaches have clear guidance at their entrances about safety and conditions on the beach and in the water. Be sure to read these.
Most beaches have zoned areas indicating where different usages and watersports are allowed.
Do not swim in the surf zones. Do not surf in the swim zones.
Vazon Bay is the beginner's beach. It has an area specifically reserved for novice surfers (north of the central steps; behind the restaurant). It's where the surf school is.
The reef at Vazon is mostly for experienced surfers. Most other breaks in Guernsey are unsuitable for novices.
Surf etiquette
All surfers should learn and follow these simple rules to maximise everyone's enjoyment of the water together!
- Right of way: nearest the break has right of way
- Don't drop in: if someone's on the wave, wait for another
- Paddle sensibly: paddle out through the foam out of the way of others on waves
- Hold on to your board (aka: don't ditch): your board is your lifeline but also a massive liability; hold on to it at all costs and for the safety of yourself and of others around you
- Don't snake (aka: don't steal position) - wait your turn!
- Avoid packed lineups: if a take-off is already crowded, don't make it worse. Find a different take-off
- Share the waves: there's plenty to go round
- Be humble and kind: if you make a mistake, apologise. Be gracious if you're the recipient of that.
- Novices: respect the experienced surfers around you. They can help you get better.
- Old guys: be tolerant of novices. Share your wisdom. You were a beginner once.
Did you know?
There is a 50-year old legal requirement to have third party insurance to go longboarding in Guernsey!
A longboard is defined as 'a board used for the purpose of riding the surf measuring more than five feet in length along a horizontal plane between the two most distant extremities of the board'!
No mention of paddleboards, kitesurfing, windsurfing or kayaks though!