Breakwater

Breakwater is a surf spot located in Cornwall, United Kingdom. This location features a left-breaking wave with a bottom composition of sand and rocks. The surf spot is known for its normal quality waves that are suitable for surfers of all experience levels, although it is important to assess your skill level against the difficulty of the waves before entering the water. Breakwater has a wave length of less than 50 meters and typically breaks during low to medium tides. It is important to note that the wave is non-existent at high tide and begins to break only at mid to low tide. The surf spot is not consistently surfable and only sometimes breaks, often requiring a significant swell to produce rideable waves. The best conditions for surfing at Breakwater are when nearby spots, such as Porthmeor, are blown out or maxed out. When the surf is good, it can attract large crowds due to its popularity, so catching the early morning surf is essential. The crowd at Breakwater is generally considered empty, but local surfers are known to be tolerant, especially during the busy summer months. However, since there is only one peak at this break, it is common to encounter snaking and dropping in, particularly when the waves are working well. It is advisable to be mindful of surf etiquette when surfing crowded spots. Accessing Breakwater requires driving down the A30 to St. Ives, proceeding into the town center, and reaching the harbor front, where two piers are located. Breakwater is situated behind the longer of the two piers. Limited parking is available on the pier for those looking to visit. The paddle out can be long and tedious due to a small rip that sweeps the length of the pier and away from the break; it is often easier to jump off the rocks that are parallel to the pier. If caught in the rip, surfers can remain calm as it runs into the harbor, which is generally calm and not very busy. Nearby surf spots include St. Ives Harbour, Porthmeor, Carbis Bay, Hayle Rivermouth, and Peter’s Point. Respect the locals.