Its the same deal at Pollock Beach where The Pipe breaks in all small swells and is even rideable in light onshores from the E. The Clubhouse end will handle more size, but it is probably way better elsewhere. Avalanche may be the funnest wave in PE when the sand builds up just right on the reef. SW swells will bend into town, allowing this rocky outcrop to catch and focus the power as it zips down the line at varying speed with the odd hollow pocket. Pretty consistent and always crowded when it fires. South of the Shark Rock Pier and Hobie Beach is Millers Point, another relatively mellow, messy sandover-rock-shelf arrangement that needs some E in the swell to give it a bit of punch. However, on the dozen good days a year, it really fires at high tide with damn long rides and barrels that are missing when its small. Gets crowded and a bit aggro R O G E R G C M y d O K St Francis Bay

Travel Info Swell and Wind With a bit of luck, there will be weeks of back to back S-SW swells from March to Sept. Strong E winds or tropical cyclones occurring from Jan-March can provide short-lived NE-SE swells. Fast-paced depressions push strong SW winds and makes SE-facing spots like J-Bay a much better bet for good wind conditions. From Nov to March the wind changes direction and blows primarily from the E, not good for the majority of spots. From April to Oct light NW (berg) winds blow offshore in the morning, turning SW in the afternoon. Tidal range can be significant so get a tide table from the J-Bay surf shops. mountains, followed a day later by a cold front coming off the sea, bringing a sudden drop in temperatures. Summers are warm and you could even surf in a shorty, but the remainder of the year requires a good 3/2 fullsuit.

Lodging and Food During summer all accommodation may be full. In winter the crowds die down and prices drop and beds can be had in surfers hostels for as little as $20/n or camping from $14. Better quality options include Jeffreys Bay Surftrips from ($40/n). Cape St-Francis Holiday Resort (fr $40/p/n), On the Beach Guesthouse (fr $50/p/n) and a multitude of others. A good meal costs $8. The fish is excellent. Nature and Culture Theres very little to do here other than surf. The Drakensberg Mountains are a long but worthwhile trip. Port Elizabeth is known as the Friendly City, as well as the Windy City. Attractions include the Seaview Lion Park, Marine Rehab Centre, whale watching tours or the Shamwari Game Reserve.

Hazards and Hassles Sharks are everyones big fear, as Mick Fanning will testify, yet the first fatal J-Bay attack was in Oct 2013 on a swimmer. Avoid surfing during the sardine runs, heavy rain and at dawn or dusk. More realistic threats are the razor sharp mussels that line the rocks. Weather The J-Bay area has an unstable climate but its generally dry. The hot Berg winds can bring high temps and great weather off the Handy Hints Car rental, fuel and living costs are cheap. Surf gear bought from the J-Bay surf shops can be a very good deal.