Porthleven
is for expert surfers. Its been described by many of the
surfers who regularly ride what is renowned to be one of Britains
best right-hand reef breaks as the 'beauty and the beast'.
Porthleven
Location
of Porthleven.
Beauty
because it breaks with mechanical like precision over a shallow
flat rock ledge with a very makeable tube on clean offshore days;
the beast because the power of the wave means mistakes can be
costly.
Hold-downs
can be long on big overhead days, and the rip is wicked and there
are caves to be wary of at high tide. But the sheer perfection
when Leven is on fades that into insignificance.
For
the reef to kick in it needs a big south or south westerly groundswell
with a light north to north-east wind to caress the wave face.
Paddle out by the harbour channel to the reef on the right. Low
tide is a definite no-go as the waves get super hollow and the
reef is just too exposed.
Good
from just before mid to just before high. On big tides there is
a backwash off the rocks and harbour wall. The break faces south
west and is popular with surfers and body boarders. Crowds can
be a big problem when the wave breaks under 6ft.
To
the left of the harbour is a smaller version called The Pier,
which breaks both left and right and is less powerful than the
main reef. Paddle out from the harbour.
Park
where you can, which can be a headache in summer. All the shops
needed for a decent pit stop are in walking distance.
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