Every year the UK’s premier surf and music event Boardmasters swells the population of Newquay, as 50,000 people get ready for a week of it.
It’s Boardmasters time again – and if you’ve been down Fistral, you’ve likely shared the lineup with more than a few of the visiting European talent, making the most of a teeny tiny summer bump this morning.
Will he do it again? Lukas Skinner Boardmasters Men’s champ 2025. Pic: WSL.
While Fistral has been lake-like over the past few weeks, there’s actually a little kink in the forecast over the next couple of days, just in time for Boardmasters to get started. Nothing too exciting, but enough to get moving out there. Here’s how the event window is looking:
August 5th: 4-6ft, moderate onshore.
Probably one of the bigger days of the summer so far a 6.8ft @ 8 seconds WNW pulse is rifling in out of the North Atlantic, breaking the flat-spell deadlock. But with it, comes moderate, 22mph onshore wind. This will ruffle up proceedings somewhat, but with the bump in swell, expect to see a few sections perfect for punting. The swell fades throughout the day, so event organisers may want to get the first few rounds in the water early.
August 6th: 3-4ft, moderate onshore.
That same swell ramps down considerably by Thursday. The wind is still moderate and onshore meaning it will be ruffled out there. The pushing tide could offer a bit of a bump in size but don’t expect much out there into the evening.
August 7th: 1-2ft, light onshore.
The summer pattern returns, with small wind swell and a light onshore breeze. The swell has got a slight glint of hope as a bit of northerly direction is in the mix but for the most part, this is jumbled wind swell for floaty boards. With many heats to get through, it’s not clear whether Boardmasters organisers can afford a down day.
Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri from the Basque Country, won the women’s open in 2025.
August 8th: 1-2ft, light cross-shore.
A bit too far into the surf forecast crystal ball at the moment, but the models are showing a tiny swell lapping to shore on Saturday, with another wind swell running underneath it. That means the water’s going to look very textured, and that cross-shore wind isn’t going to help proceedings.
August 9th: 1-2ft, light cross-shore.
We’re really pulling at the seams of forecasting now, this is likely to change as the forecast gets closer – no forecast models are confident enough to lock this in almost seven days out. But as it stands, not much change from the day before, small, weak surf with the underpinning wind swell in the mix.
Good luck to all the competitors — the heats are looking stacked.
