Six Pillars (Gqeberha)

Six Pillars (also known as Slipway) is an elusive right-hand sandbar break at Humewood Beach in Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth. It’s strongly swell-dependent: the wave needs a major south or south-west swell to wrap in and start working, and it only breaks on a very small number of days each year. When it does fire, the result is a hollow, fast, powerful regional-classic right-hander. The wave is best at low tide, particularly on a falling tide when the sandbar shape improves. On optimal days it can deliver very long rides (reported around 150–300 meters), though it can also be shorter when conditions are marginal. Wave quality is described as good to regional-classic on the days when the sandbar fully forms. Wind plays a major role in how the wave behaves. Southwest wind is generally described as offshore and ideal for grooming, while southeast wind is described as onshore and likely to ruin the wave face. Even with the correct wind, the break remains unpredictable because it relies on the specific big-swell geometry around the promenade area. Safety is a core consideration here: the spot includes hazards from rocks/reef and the concrete pillars that support the promenade (with additional obstacles nearby). Reports also flag rip currents/undertow during larger swells and indicate swimming may be restricted in the main impact zone. If conditions are firing, expect crowding despite the overall rarity of the break—so keep to safe positioning, follow priority etiquette, and be especially cautious around the structures.