Ansteys - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (May - August)

During the Southern Hemisphere winter, the Indian Ocean storm track fires up, sending consistent, long-period groundswells towards the South African coast. At Ansteys, these months deliver the most reliable combination of powerful swell and favorable offshore winds. Average wave periods climb to 10.4-10.8 seconds, often bringing pumping to firing conditions in the 1.5-2.5m range. The dominant swell directions shift to include more S and SSE swells, which wrap nicely into the southeast-facing beach. Meanwhile, the percentage of offshore winds from the W, WNW, NW, and NNW peaks at 50-55%, meaning clean, groomed waves are the norm. This is prime time for quality surfing at Ansteys.

Fair Surf Season (March - April & September - October)

The shoulder seasons offer a mix of conditions. Swell heights remain solid (1.7-1.8m average) with periods around 9.6-10.0 seconds, providing rippable to solid waves. Offshore wind consistency drops to 28-37%, so you will need to time your sessions carefully. Swell is primarily from the E to SSE quadrant, with an increasing S component later in these months. When the wind does align from the west, the waves can be excellent. However, onshore winds from the east are more common, making morning windows often the best bet.

Low Surf Season (November - February)

Summer in South Africa brings a shift to more easterly wind regimes, which blow directly onshore at Ansteys. Offshore wind consistency falls to just 17-23%, and average wave periods drop to 8.7-9.4 seconds, resulting in average to punchy but often choppy conditions. Swell heights still average 1.6-1.7m, but the shorter periods and persistent onshore winds make for less quality. The dominant swell directions are from the E and ESE, which are also the same directions that bring onshore winds when the wind is from those quadrants. Surfers will find the smallest, messiest waves during these months, though early morning offshore flows can occasionally produce fun sessions.

January: Summer Onshore Grind

January sits in the heart of South African summer, and the subtropical high-pressure belt locks in a persistent easterly wind regime. At Ansteys, this means offshore winds from the W/WNW/NW/NNW blow only 18% of the time, while onshore winds from the NE (26%) and NNE (12.5%) dominate. Swell generation is limited to weaker trade-wind pulses and distant low-pressure systems in the Indian Ocean, yielding an average height of 1.6m and a mediocre period of 8.9s. The bulk of the swell arrives from the E (22.8%) and ESE (18.7%), with a secondary pulse from SSE (17.2%). These directions are directly onshore when accompanied by the prevailing easterly winds, so expect choppy and messy conditions more often than not. The rare morning windows with light westerly breezes can produce fun-sized waves in the 1-1.5m range, but consistency is poor.