Bracklesham Bay
United Kingdom · Atlantic Europe
Right now
OvercastWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.1m ESE
Wind: 12 km/h NNE (offshore)
Beach faces: S
Offshore wind (blowing from land to sea). Ideal conditions, holding up wave faces for cleaner surf.
Swell is coming in at an oblique angle, some refraction expected.
Today hour by hour
Updated 08:35Expected crowds
Prediction model v15amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- 4/3mm wetsuit recommended for 13°C water.
- Small waves expected. Longboard or fish to make the most of it.
- Strong winds on some days. Check the forecast each morning.
Today's briefing
0.3m swell at 7s on a short period. Moderate winds. Water temperature 13°C.
AI-generated summary for Bracklesham Bay. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Bracklesham Bay
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Today around 5am (score: 1). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Crowd report
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Session journal
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelSwell forecast
7-day forecastWater quality
5 nearby outfallsUpdated 08:35
Daily score breakdown
This week is looking about average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Bracklesham Bay.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Bracklesham Bay
Bracklesham Bay is an exposed stretch of coastline located in West Sussex, United Kingdom. The seafloor consists of a shallow gradient of sand interspersed with substantial shingle and flint banks. This highly variable bathymetry causes incoming wave energy to dissipate slowly across the wide intertidal zone. The spot relies entirely on short-period south-westerly wind swells moving eastward up the English Channel. A northerly wind is required to blow offshore, cleaning the wave faces and providing essential structure to the peaks. Due to the very flat nature of the beach, the waves generally lack power, resulting in slow, rolling whitewater and gentle green faces that crumble rather than pitch. This makes Bracklesham Bay an appropriate venue for beginner surfers and stand-up paddleboarders seeking a low-consequence environment for practising balance and fundamental wave-riding mechanics. The presence of strong lateral currents along the shingle banks requires caution, but the lack of heavy, plunging waves ensures a relatively safe learning environment.
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Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Bracklesham Bay. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
When is the best time to surf Bracklesham Bay?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.