Still Bay Lefts (Stilbaai West)

Still Bay Lefts (near the Goukou River mouth/harbor area in Stilbaai) is a compact, small-spot setup with clean water and a reef/rocky bottom. The wave environment is typically described as medium-to-big, with left-breaking surf and left-focused wave riding. The reef nature means hazards are concentrated, and conditions can be especially demanding around rocks and currents. For wind sports, the spot is primarily associated with kitesurfing and wave riding. Best seasons are January, February, and October through December, with the predominant wind described as South-East/sea-breeze in summer (including E, ESE, SE, and SW as best directions). Summer afternoon sea breezes are reported as reliable, with SE occurring around 80% of the time during summer months. When the wind is strong and the swell is big from the right directions, it’s described as capable of world-class wave-kiting performance. Safety is a central theme here: rocky sections are a primary hazard, and river-mouth conditions can create strong currents, rip currents, and undertow. Sharks are also listed as a hazard in some descriptions. Sessions are therefore best approached with advanced preparation, careful launch selection, and strong attention to tide effects—one guidance note emphasizes that high tide can bring big surges, suggesting a lower-tide session is often ideal. Surfing is described as working best for advanced riders seeking peeling, powerful lefts off the reef, with performance that can change notably with wind. In strong South-Easterly conditions, the surface can become choppy, and while the wave can hold size, currents can make larger conditions more challenging. Lifeguard coverage is described as seasonal, and emergency response is available via the local NSRI service.