Sunset Beach

About

Wide open sandy beach with no reefs nor rocks. Isabella Drive (this is the southernmost parking lot). Bursa Road is the northernmost parking lot. There are 5 in total. Isabella Drive is the most popular and in peak season you will likely not find parking unless you arrived before the wind did.

Summer, from November to early/mid March. It's possible to get SE in winter but often with rain, it's very fickle. The winter NW is not popular with water users, often also because of the very big swell.

Town and Activities

This location is close to a very wide variety of shopping, accommodation and entertainment establishments. There are also a wide variety of sports activities close by. Cape Town is a thriving city with plenty to offer.

Wind, Swell & Waves

Direction

SE is the gold standard which produces excellent down the line sailing. The W is generally not above say 15 knots. NW is sailable but it's onshore, and in winter the NW often comes with very large swell.

Ranges

It's rarely totally calm/glassy. Wind in a summer SE is anything from 10 to 50 knots. On some days it will gust a touch higher. A “normal” SE session would be 22-35 knots. NW is similar, but less predictable and short lived depending on rain.

Swell Direction

The more westerly the better as it produces a bigger wave. The higher the wave period the better.

Forecasting Sites

WindGuru. Opinions range on which model is best. WRF 9 km for short range is not bad. GFS 13 km tends to under forecast and their own WG model is potentially the closest, if not a little under.

Wave & Jump Conditions

Depends on the banks, but it has less of a run up than many other spots, like Big Bay or Van Riebeeckstrand in Melkbosstrand. If you get planing quickly and are comfortable all jumps are possible. If the wind is a bit too offshore the inside can be light which is not favourable for jumping.

Anything from ankle slappers to above mast high. Mast and a half is about the max. Usually not very hollow, but again it depends on the sand banks. There are no rocks and even floating pieces of kelp are rare. It's bigger than Woodbridge Island, but not nearly as hollow.

Hazards

Beginners, Whales & Sunfish

Beginner kiters. They tend to come to Sunset Beach to avoid the crowds of other kiters further north. But not all are beginners and Sunset is a popular start for their downwinders. The odd whale you might see, and the very slow moving sunfish.

Water

Temperature

Summer can be as low as 8°C. Rarely warmer than 13°C/14°C. In winter it's generally 12°C-15°C

Tides

There is a shorebreak that comes and goes during the year but it's always worst at high tide. Low tide pushing to high is best.

Facilities

Ablution

None

Storage

None

Refreshments

Engen station corner of Ocean Way and the R27 (as you enter the suburb from the southern traffic lights)

Crowds

From late November to end of February it gets very crowded. However between the 5 parkings you will find a spot. The wind starts at Lagoon Beach, makes it's way to Woodbridge Island then Sunset etc. As it goes north it gets weaker. So when the wind at Sunset starts getting really strong, the crowds more north to Big Bay, Melkbos etc. and you may find yourself sailing alone.

Security

Never leave anything visible in your vehicle. Historyically windows have been smashed and even entire vehicles stolen but the last few years it's been fine.