Thursday 16 October 2025
Hopefully some super-clean 1-2 foot (0.3-0.6m) surf on the west coast. Beautiful swimming conditions in that part of the Island too. Low tide will be around 10am and high tide will be 7.2m around 4pm.
Friday 17 October 2025
Flat surf but beautiful swimming condition (along the west coast especially). Low tides will be around 11am and high tides will be 7.7m around 5pm.
The Weekend
Saturday’s surf will probably increase from flat to 1 foot, then Sunday’s surf should increase from 2 feet to 3. Both days super-clean for surfers. Sunday pretty good for windsurfers too. Tides will be low around midday, and high around 6am and 6pm (increasing from about 8m on Saturday morning to about 8.9m on Sunday evening).
Next Week
Weather
Most days will be at least partially wet and windy, but those episodes will be punctuated by calmer clearer spells. By day, those finer moments might allow temperatures to creep up to about 17°C (the WSW’ly airflow generally being a mild one). Nightly minima will generally be around 12-13°C, but if things become clear and calm at that time, then we could see minima as low as 10°C. Currently Wednesday is threatening to be the wettest day, with some rather prolonged spells of rain, but some of the other days could be just as wet, if the showers turn out to be more frequent than expected. Town will aways be the mildest and most comfortable part of the Island.
Surf and the Water
Definitely a full week of activity for surfers, windsurfers and kitesurfers. Waves will vary between around 2-3 feet (0.6-0.9m) at their smallest and 5-6 feet (1.5-1.8m) at their largest. Tides will be high around breakfast time and in the evenings… ranging between 8.7m at the smallest and 9.3m at their largest (Wednesday morning). Low tides will be in the early afternoons.
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!