W from · 275° · 11.3 s
Sandspit.
Harbor wedge / sandbar
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Forecast & tide at a glance
Estimated surf face · feet · Pacific time. The existing PureSurfers face-estimation engine; not a measured or calibrated breaking-wave report.
READ THE INDIVIDUAL SWELLS
Swell by swell.
Offshore component height (Hs), not surf-face height. Directions are where waves come from. Component heights do not add together.
Wed Nov 11, 6:00pm Pacific
GFS · 4 components
No energy reported for this component
SW from · 225° · 13.3 s
W from · 273° · 12.5 s
MFWAM · 2 components
W from · 277° · 10.0 s
No energy reported for this component
Each model supplies its own partitions. Missing components remain unavailable; another model’s primary swell is not automatically the same wave system.
Coastal wind retrieved Wed Nov 11, 4:58pm · older cache. This is regional modeled wind, not a beach measurement.
Source retrievals: GFS Nov 11, 4:58pm (older cache) · ECMWF Nov 11, 4:58pm (older cache) · MFWAM Nov 11, 4:58pm (older cache). Retrieval time is not the model issue time. This page combines all available cached model families; map model selections are separate.
Tide predictions: Santa Barbara, 0 km reference; retrieved Wed Nov 11, 12:45pm. Station predictions can differ locally.
Seven-day overview
| Pacific day | Estimated surf face | Mean wind | Hours available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Nov 11 | 2.1 ft | 3.7 mph | 14/14 |
| Thu Nov 12 | 2.1 ft | 8.6 mph | 14/14 |
| Fri Nov 13 | 2.9 ft | 7.1 mph | 14/14 |
| Sat Nov 14 | 4.8 ft | 3.4 mph | 14/14 |
| Sun Nov 15 | 2.8 ft | 5.2 mph | 14/14 |
| Mon Nov 16 | 4.0 ft | 3.1 mph | 14/14 |
| Tue Nov 17 | 2.9 ft | 7.0 mph | 14/14 |
Hourly details · next 72 hours
| Pacific time | Estimated surf face | Model range | Set proxy | Swell from | Wind | Tide MLLW | Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 6:00pm | 2.0 ft | 1.2–2.8 ft | 3.0 ft | W · 12.0 s | 2.3 mph NNW | 0.0 ft | 3 |
| Wed 7:00pm | 2.0 ft | 1.2–2.7 ft | 3.0 ft | W · 11.9 s | 3.7 mph NNW | 0.5 ft | 3 |
| Wed 8:00pm | 1.9 ft | 1.2–2.6 ft | 2.9 ft | W · 11.9 s | 4.9 mph NW | 1.3 ft | 3 |
| Wed 9:00pm | 1.9 ft | 1.1–2.6 ft | 2.8 ft | W · 11.9 s | 5.6 mph NW | 2.2 ft | 3 |
| Wed 10:00pm | 1.8 ft | 1.1–2.5 ft | 2.7 ft | W · 11.8 s | 5.0 mph NW | 2.9 ft | 3 |
| Wed 11:00pm | 1.9 ft | 1.3–2.4 ft | 2.8 ft | W · 11.8 s | 5.8 mph NW | 3.3 ft | 3 |
| Thu 12:00am | 1.8 ft | 1.3–2.4 ft | 2.7 ft | W · 11.8 s | 5.7 mph NW | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Thu 1:00am | 1.8 ft | 1.3–2.3 ft | 2.7 ft | W · 11.8 s | 5.9 mph NNW | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Thu 2:00am | 1.8 ft | 1.3–2.2 ft | 2.6 ft | W · 11.7 s | 5.5 mph NNW | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Thu 3:00am | 1.7 ft | 1.3–2.2 ft | 2.6 ft | W · 11.7 s | 5.3 mph N | 3.0 ft | 3 |
| Thu 4:00am | 1.8 ft | 1.4–2.2 ft | 2.6 ft | W · 11.7 s | 4.7 mph N | 3.0 ft | 3 |
| Thu 5:00am | 1.8 ft | 1.4–2.2 ft | 2.6 ft | W · 11.6 s | 4.8 mph NNE | 3.3 ft | 3 |
| Thu 6:00am | 1.8 ft | 1.4–2.2 ft | 2.7 ft | W · 11.6 s | 3.8 mph NNE | 3.7 ft | 3 |
| Thu 7:00am | 1.8 ft | 1.3–2.2 ft | 2.7 ft | W · 11.6 s | 5.5 mph NE | 4.3 ft | 3 |
| Thu 8:00am | 1.8 ft | 1.4–2.2 ft | 2.7 ft | W · 11.7 s | 5.4 mph E | 4.9 ft | 3 |
| Thu 9:00am | 1.9 ft | 1.4–2.3 ft | 2.8 ft | W · 11.7 s | 8.0 mph ESE | 5.4 ft | 3 |
| Thu 10:00am | 1.9 ft | 1.6–2.4 ft | 2.9 ft | W · 11.8 s | 8.7 mph SE | 5.6 ft | 3 |
| Thu 11:00am | 2.0 ft | 1.6–2.4 ft | 3.0 ft | W · 11.9 s | 8.2 mph SE | 5.4 ft | 3 |
| Thu 12:00pm | 2.1 ft | 1.7–2.5 ft | 3.1 ft | W · 12.0 s | 10.0 mph SSE | 4.8 ft | 3 |
| Thu 1:00pm | 2.1 ft | 1.7–2.6 ft | 3.2 ft | W · 12.2 s | 11.8 mph SSE | 3.9 ft | 3 |
| Thu 2:00pm | 2.2 ft | 1.8–2.6 ft | 3.3 ft | W · 12.3 s | 11.5 mph SSE | 2.8 ft | 3 |
| Thu 3:00pm | 2.2 ft | 1.5–2.7 ft | 3.2 ft | W · 12.5 s | 10.7 mph SSE | 1.7 ft | 3 |
| Thu 4:00pm | 2.0 ft | 1.0–2.8 ft | 3.0 ft | W · 12.7 s | 10.2 mph SE | 0.8 ft | 3 |
| Thu 5:00pm | 2.3 ft | 1.6–2.8 ft | 3.4 ft | W · 12.9 s | 9.7 mph SSE | 0.2 ft | 3 |
| Thu 6:00pm | 2.4 ft | 1.9–2.9 ft | 3.6 ft | W · 13.1 s | 8.3 mph SSE | 0.0 ft | 3 |
| Thu 7:00pm | 2.4 ft | 1.8–3.0 ft | 3.6 ft | W · 13.2 s | 8.6 mph SE | 0.3 ft | 3 |
| Thu 8:00pm | 2.5 ft | 1.9–3.1 ft | 3.7 ft | W · 13.4 s | 11.7 mph SE | 0.8 ft | 3 |
| Thu 9:00pm | 2.5 ft | 1.9–3.1 ft | 3.8 ft | W · 13.6 s | 12.3 mph ESE | 1.6 ft | 3 |
| Thu 10:00pm | 2.6 ft | 2.0–3.2 ft | 3.8 ft | W · 13.6 s | 13.9 mph ESE | 2.3 ft | 3 |
| Thu 11:00pm | 2.6 ft | 1.9–3.2 ft | 3.9 ft | W · 13.6 s | 13.4 mph ESE | 2.9 ft | 3 |
| Fri 12:00am | 2.6 ft | 1.9–3.3 ft | 3.9 ft | W · 13.4 s | 16.5 mph ESE | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 1:00am | 2.7 ft | 2.0–3.4 ft | 4.0 ft | W · 13.2 s | 14.7 mph E | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Fri 2:00am | 2.7 ft | 2.0–3.5 ft | 4.1 ft | W · 13.1 s | 14.6 mph E | 3.3 ft | 3 |
| Fri 3:00am | 2.8 ft | 2.0–3.5 ft | 4.1 ft | W · 12.9 s | 13.6 mph SE | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 4:00am | 2.8 ft | 1.9–3.6 ft | 4.2 ft | W · 12.8 s | 2.2 mph ESE | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 5:00am | 2.8 ft | 2.0–3.6 ft | 4.2 ft | W · 12.7 s | 6.2 mph NNE | 3.3 ft | 3 |
| Fri 6:00am | 2.8 ft | 2.1–3.6 ft | 4.3 ft | W · 12.6 s | 4.8 mph E | 3.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 7:00am | 2.9 ft | 2.1–3.6 ft | 4.3 ft | W · 12.5 s | 10.1 mph E | 4.0 ft | 3 |
| Fri 8:00am | 2.9 ft | 2.1–3.6 ft | 4.3 ft | W · 12.5 s | 10.7 mph E | 4.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 9:00am | 2.8 ft | 2.2–3.6 ft | 4.3 ft | W · 12.5 s | 10.4 mph SE | 4.9 ft | 3 |
| Fri 10:00am | 2.8 ft | 2.2–3.5 ft | 4.3 ft | W · 12.5 s | 8.2 mph SE | 5.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 11:00am | 2.8 ft | 2.3–3.5 ft | 4.3 ft | W · 12.4 s | 5.9 mph S | 5.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 12:00pm | 2.8 ft | 2.3–3.4 ft | 4.3 ft | W · 12.4 s | 5.6 mph S | 4.9 ft | 3 |
| Fri 1:00pm | 2.8 ft | 2.3–3.4 ft | 4.3 ft | W · 12.3 s | 5.4 mph S | 4.3 ft | 3 |
| Fri 2:00pm | 2.8 ft | 2.3–3.4 ft | 4.3 ft | W · 12.3 s | 5.0 mph SSW | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Fri 3:00pm | 2.9 ft | 2.4–3.4 ft | 4.3 ft | W · 12.3 s | 5.6 mph SW | 2.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 4:00pm | 2.9 ft | 2.5–3.4 ft | 4.3 ft | W · 12.2 s | 6.7 mph WSW | 1.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 5:00pm | 2.9 ft | 2.6–3.5 ft | 4.4 ft | W · 12.0 s | 8.4 mph W | 0.8 ft | 3 |
| Fri 6:00pm | 3.0 ft | 2.6–3.5 ft | 4.5 ft | W · 11.8 s | 7.2 mph W | 0.3 ft | 3 |
| Fri 7:00pm | 3.0 ft | 2.6–3.6 ft | 4.5 ft | W · 11.5 s | 5.7 mph W | 0.3 ft | 3 |
| Fri 8:00pm | 3.3 ft | 2.6–3.8 ft | 4.9 ft | W · 11.2 s | 4.0 mph WNW | 0.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 9:00pm | 3.3 ft | 2.6–3.8 ft | 4.9 ft | W · 10.8 s | 3.1 mph WNW | 1.1 ft | 3 |
| Fri 10:00pm | 3.4 ft | 2.5–4.0 ft | 5.0 ft | W · 10.6 s | 2.0 mph W | 1.7 ft | 3 |
| Fri 11:00pm | 3.3 ft | 2.5–4.0 ft | 5.0 ft | W · 10.8 s | 3.9 mph WNW | 2.3 ft | 3 |
| Sat 12:00am | 3.4 ft | 2.4–4.0 ft | 5.0 ft | W · 11.2 s | 4.6 mph WSW | 2.9 ft | 3 |
| Sat 1:00am | 3.3 ft | 2.4–4.2 ft | 4.9 ft | W · 11.6 s | 4.9 mph NW | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Sat 2:00am | 3.4 ft | 2.3–4.5 ft | 5.1 ft | W · 12.0 s | 3.0 mph NNE | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Sat 3:00am | 3.6 ft | 2.3–4.7 ft | 5.3 ft | W · 12.4 s | 2.5 mph NE | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Sat 4:00am | 3.7 ft | 2.4–5.0 ft | 5.6 ft | W · 12.8 s | 2.4 mph NE | 3.3 ft | 3 |
| Sat 5:00am | 3.9 ft | 2.5–5.3 ft | 5.9 ft | W · 13.2 s | 2.9 mph NNW | 3.3 ft | 3 |
| Sat 6:00am | 4.1 ft | 2.7–5.5 ft | 6.2 ft | W · 13.7 s | 3.5 mph NW | 3.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 7:00am | 4.4 ft | 2.9–5.8 ft | 6.6 ft | WNW · 14.1 s | 2.8 mph NNW | 3.7 ft | 3 |
| Sat 8:00am | 4.7 ft | 3.4–6.0 ft | 7.0 ft | WNW · 14.5 s | 1.2 mph NNE | 4.0 ft | 3 |
| Sat 9:00am | 4.8 ft | 3.4–6.2 ft | 7.2 ft | WNW · 14.8 s | 1.8 mph SSE | 4.4 ft | 3 |
| Sat 10:00am | 4.9 ft | 3.5–6.4 ft | 7.3 ft | WNW · 15.0 s | 3.6 mph S | 4.7 ft | 3 |
| Sat 11:00am | 4.9 ft | 3.4–6.5 ft | 7.3 ft | WNW · 15.1 s | 4.7 mph SSW | 4.9 ft | 3 |
| Sat 12:00pm | 4.9 ft | 3.5–6.6 ft | 7.4 ft | WNW · 15.1 s | 4.3 mph SW | 4.8 ft | 3 |
| Sat 1:00pm | 5.0 ft | 3.6–6.6 ft | 7.5 ft | WNW · 15.1 s | 4.3 mph WSW | 4.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 2:00pm | 5.0 ft | 3.6–6.7 ft | 7.5 ft | WNW · 15.0 s | 5.0 mph WSW | 3.9 ft | 3 |
| Sat 3:00pm | 5.0 ft | 3.5–6.7 ft | 7.5 ft | WNW · 14.8 s | 4.0 mph SW | 3.1 ft | 3 |
| Sat 4:00pm | 4.9 ft | 3.4–6.7 ft | 7.4 ft | WNW · 14.6 s | 3.4 mph SSW | 2.3 ft | 3 |
| Sat 5:00pm | 4.9 ft | 3.5–6.6 ft | 7.3 ft | WNW · 14.5 s | 2.5 mph S | 1.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 6:00pm | 4.8 ft | 3.4–6.5 ft | 7.2 ft | WNW · 14.3 s | 2.7 mph SE | 0.9 ft | 3 |
Model spread is not a confidence interval. Tide and wind are context, not new corrections to surf size. Larger sets and changing hazards remain possible.
This page reads the shared cache first. Refresh requests only this spot’s existing regional samples.
Know the spot
The harbor-engineered mutant: a heavy, hollow right when the sand and swell align.
Also known as The Spit.
- Break type
- Harbor wedge / sandbar
- Wave direction
- Right-dominant
- Reported difficulty
- Advanced / expert
- Bottom
- Sand
- Reported swell preference
- Large W; NW–SW energy can focus
- Reported tide preference
- Low–mid
One of the coast’s most dramatic novelty waves. Treat any left as secondary to the dominant right-hand wedge.
Before paddling out: Violent lip, currents, breakwater, shallow sandbar, expert-only when active.
Santa Barbara Harbor / breakwater access Documented lineup
Source references
Provenance is not proof that every inherited claim or current access condition has been rechecked.
THE FIELD GUIDE / Sandspit
Read this stretch of coast.
Follow the swell window
The catalogue’s reported preference for Sandspit is “Large W; NW–SW energy can focus”. Compare that description with each component’s incoming direction and period. An offshore swell number is a reference; the local wave still depends on the actual shoreline, bottom and tide.
Check the water level
Reported tide preference: Low–mid. Follow the named NOAA station and its trend through your intended session, then inspect the entry and exit at the beach. A station prediction is not a water-level sensor at this takeoff.
Read the bottom and the lineup
Catalogue bottom: Sand. Reported difficulty: Advanced / expert. Watch several sets before choosing where to enter, keep clear of riders, and compare the actual wave with your ability and equipment.
A useful note for next time
Record the section you actually surfed, the time, incoming swell direction and period, wind and tide trend. Add what the wave did: connected sections, closeouts, drift or exposed obstacles. Comparing that observation with the same model next time is more useful than treating one colored number as the whole session.
Camera references nearby
Santa Barbara Waterfront ↗
City of Santa Barbara · about 0.5 km from the catalogue pin · video-page
Waterfront and harbor panorama; not a measurement of surf at Leadbetter.
Stearns Wharf & coast ↗
SkylineWebcams · about 0.6 km from the catalogue pin · video-page
Stearns Wharf and surrounding beach/coastal weather.
West Beach ↗
The Milo · about 0.7 km from the catalogue pin · video-page
Hotel-hosted West Beach view for visibility and coastal conditions.
Links to third-party camera pages, not owned feeds. Proximity does not confirm the camera sees this break. Playback and image freshness have not been verified by this page.
Make the next session easier
Lineup etiquette · Paddling technique · How these forecasts work
Nearby spots to compare
PureSurfers is built by Peter Ochabski. Spot profiles combine retained sources and contributor observations; this is not a claim he has surfed or verified every entry.
COASTAL WAVE GUIDANCE
Waves at the model cells
Awaiting shared model dataSignificant wave height (Hs) before the legacy spot reduction. This is not a measured breaking-face or set range.








