Surf spot

Cape Saint Francis

Forecast conditions and map view for Cape Saint Francis in South Africa, South J Bay. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: South Africa, South J Bay
Coordinates: -34.1875, 24.8595

Metric
Metric	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00
Wave height (m)	1.7	1.6	1.6	1.5	1.5	1.9	2	2.1	2.3	2.4	2.4	2.3	2.1	1.7	1.5	1.8	3.3	3.2	3	2.7	2.4	2.1	1.9	1.8	1.7	1.7	1.6	1.6	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.9	2.4	2.4	2.2	2.3	2.4	2.7	3	3.1	3	2.8	2.9	2.3	2.5	2.3	2.4	2.5	2.2	2.1	2.1	2.1	1.8	2.4	2.5
Wave direction	SW	SW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SW	SW	SE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	E	ESE	ESE	ESE	E	E	E	E	E	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SSW	SW	SW	SW	SSW	SSW	SW	SSW	SSW	SW	SW	SW	ESE	ESE	E	E	E	E	ESE	E	E
Wave period (s)	8.6	8.5	8.7	8.9	8.8	11.9	12.8	12.9	12.6	12.4	12.2	11.7	11.6	11.6	10.3	7.5	7.8	7.6	7.8	7.8	7.3	7.4	7.5	7.6	7.7	7.8	8	8.1	8.1	7.6	7.5	7.8	7.9	7.8	7.8	8.1	7.3	8.2	9.2	9.7	10.3	10.3	10.8	10.9	10.7	10.7	10.6	8	6.5	8.1	7.5	7.5	7.7	8	8	8.2
Wave energy (kJ)	417	379	402	370	326	980	1301	1536	1651	1801	1758	1411	1154	789	503	360	1326	1213	1052	863	633	474	406	383	354	331	336	332	307	260	260	285	432	692	686	627	562	775	1239	1739	2112	1841	1838	1998	1254	1395	1148	713	545	658	499	515	523	424	725	817
Wind speed (km/h)	13.2	10.7	10.6	8.3	19.2	24.3	21.8	38.8	46.9	40.8	48.4	46.6	37.9	44.4	44.7	41.3	24	13.2	10.5	20.6	20.6	38.7	11.4	4.3	7.8	10.2	11.3	8.6	19.9	12	7.6	9.2	13.5	21.2	25.7	21	23.4	29.7	25.4	18.5	17.6	22.1	28.5	39.1	37.8	18.2	24.8	23.1	24.9	23.6	22.5	21.2	17.7	13.5	8.7	2.2
Wind direction	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	EOnshore	EOnshore	ESEOnshore	ESEOnshore	ESEBlown out	ESEBlown out	ESEBlown out	EBlown out	EBlown out	EBlown out	EBlown out	ENEBlown out	ENEBlown out	NECross-on	NNECross-on	NCross	NECross-on	WNWCross-off	WBlown out	WNWOffshore	SSWGlassy	NNWCross	NWCross-off	NCross	WNWCross-off	SSECross	SSWCross-off	WSWOffshore	WOffshore	WSWOffshore	SWCross-off	SWCross-off	WSWOffshore	WOffshore	WOffshore	SSWCross	SSWCross-off	SWCross-off	WOffshore	WSWOffshore	WSWBlown out	WBlown out	SWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SSWCross	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SCross	SCross	SCross	SCross	EGlassy

Cape Saint Francis (South J Bay), South Africa is a classic South African surf destination known for its fast, high-quality point break and scenic setting.

Quick description

Wave type: Mostly a right-hand point break
Best for: Intermediate to advanced surfers, especially those comfortable with long, fast, sometimes powerful rights
Vibe: Remote, beautiful, and more relaxed than many crowded surf towns
Consistency: Can be very reliable when swell lines up

What it’s like to surf

South J Bay is known for producing long-running, peeling waves that can offer excellent rides when the sand and swell are working together. It often has a clean, organized line-up and can hold size well. The wave can get quick and punchy, so timing and positioning matter.

Conditions and best time

Works best with swell from the south/southwest
Usually prefers light offshore winds for the cleanest shape
Can handle a range of sizes, from playful to powerful
Tides and sand movement can change the quality of the break

Atmosphere

Cape Saint Francis is a small, laid-back coastal area with a strong surf culture and a beautiful natural setting. It’s a good spot for surfers who want quality waves without the chaos of a big city break.