Can you surf Joss Bay on a south-westerly swell? The answer is yes, well, sort of. Joss Bay has always been an intriguing surf spot and never fails to surprise even the most dedicated Joss Bay surfers.
Let’s face it, 99% of surfers at Joss Bay would raise an eyebrow at the idea of surfing there on a south-westerly swell. However, the reality is that you can, and we know of at least 20+ surfers who have enjoyed some fun waves on such swells. These waves are not heavy beach breaks but break over the right-hand chalk reef (ledge). The tide needs to be just right, with the correct swell height wrapping around the coastline while not being completely flattened, as it is offshore at this time at Joss Bay.
So what can you expect? In short, you can get a nice ride that is a right-hander and will carry on for some of the longest rides you’ll get at Joss Bay. However, you should expect waves of 2 to 3 feet at most in the majority of cases (on rare occasions, they can be bigger), and the length of the ride will depend on the sandbars built up in the main bay.
You won’t really see these waves with the current Surfline surf cam, as they are just out of shot. This is an added bonus because surfing on a south-westerly often means fewer waves and clean rides, and the last thing you want is a crowded lineup trying to catch the glassy action. On rare occasions, it does create a lovely small cover lip, but this depends on tide height and the power of the swell.
The team here at Kent Surf have all surfed it on a south-westerly, but we’ve used longboards or mini-mal’s. These boards provide perfect pick-up over the ledges and an easy glide along the line, and with the chalk cliffs protecting you from the wind, it can be bliss. A few lucky people have caught it perfect on shortboards but we are talking once ever few years in autumn.
However, don’t think that every time there’s a big wind up the Channel or a big swell running through, you can surf Joss Bay. It can be fickle on south-westerlies, and you just have to time it right. It’s always worth a look, just in case… seek, and you will find… maybe!!!
Joss Bay is primarily a northern and north-easterly spot, but this is to open your eyes to other possibilities.