Jamestown Harbour

Jamestown Harbour

Jamestown, Saint Helena
Travel article

Official Rating

User Rating

Difficulty 7

  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1

Break frequency 4

  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1

144 days a year

Fast Wave

Wave Direction

Swell Direction

2.5m - 3.0m Swell

Wind Direction

Tide

Bookmark and Share

spot author

Username: longinus

Date created: 08/07/2008

recommended board

general information

Jamestown Harbour on the remote South Atlantic Island of St Helena is one of the most remote surfing destinations in the world. Islands in the South Atlantic are rare, thankfully surfers are rarer still so anything you catch here is likely to be done in splendid isolation. The islands here are volcanic in origin and so most waves occur in favourable conditions whereby a basalt slab has slipped below the surface not so deep as to prevent wave action further from the beach and not so shallow as to be unrideable. It's a tricky combo though there are several spots around the island where it does come together. Several other uninhabited islands in the region offer waves that have not even been named let alone ridden. Ascension and Tristan da Cunha are the only other inhabited islands in the region and again offer significant potential for unridden surf.

Jamestown Harbour is the most popular break and being right in front of the only main settlement on the island will mean if there are any other surfers in port, you will meet them here. This is a good thing in St Helena as travel around the islands can be difficult and a little expensive, the potential of having someone to split the bill with you can ease this pain somewhat.

The Harbour needs a largish swell to work otherwise the break will be far to close to the seawall for comfort. A strong NW swell produces a long gliding left hander, take the wave in as far as you dare but beware the seawall laddie - she is a harsh mistress.

One wonders how many perfect days Napoleon saw breaking against the white sand beaches here as he drifted into oblivion whilst in captivity

Wave length

50-100m

Share with

solo

Best months

November - April

Equipment

Body Board, Short board, Long board

Wave type

Fast

Access

Standard Paddle

Hazards

Reef/Rock, Man Made Objects (piers, navigation markers etc)

5 Day Forecast

5 day forecast not available.

Air - Sea - Swell - Wind

  • Dry suit
  • 5/4 steamer
  • 4/3 steamer
  • 5/4 steamer

se

0M / F4

se

0M / F4

se

0M / F4

se

0M / F4

video gallery Upload a videoView gallery

  • Default

photo galleryUpload a photoView gallery

A59cd4e8fa9444e6513c68b15d0e21c7

Jamestown Harbour

By: Andrew Neaum
969b45bf22ab217b45df55463f179a0f

Napoleon at Saint Helene

By: Francois-Joseph S...


You must be a registered user to comment. Click here to register.