Cape Point is the western sentinel guarding the calmer waters of False Bay, which runs in a giant U shape to Cape Hangklip. The bay faces south to southeast, and is mostly protected from the Atlantic. Most swell runs past Cape Point, missing the bay, unless a giant southwest or big south swell wraps into the bay. The western rim is the eastern seaboard of the Cape Peninsula. In summer, the water can reach a warm 22 °C.

Buffels Bay

This secret right-hand point break can sport 300 people in the car park when a humungous south to southeast swell breeches the swell window that shields False Bay from the open ocean. On 27 August 2005, a 30-foot south swell translated to a 10- to 15-foot swell here. When firing, hordes of grizzled veterans venture from the woodwork. A difficult wave to master, it holds off in deep water, then suddenly jacks and barrels along a shallow reef for 200 metres. Gets heavy.

Black Rocks

Nearby right-hand reef more consistent than Buffels, but also needs a huge swell between Cape Point and Hangklip. Gets radically overcrowded. A small take-off zone in thick kelp doesn’t help. A classic wedge set-up that handles up to eight- to ten-foot in ideal conditions (southwest winds and an open ocean 15-foot-plus southwest to south swell). Long lulls.

Glencairn

Left-hander that breaks off rocks near the Red Hill turnoff between Simon’s Town and Fish Hoek. Again, like all the breaks on the western rim of False Bay, needs huge swell.

Fish Hoek

Surfing with a Zimmer frame. This large retirement home is mostly asleep. The waves that break along its pretty beach are this way too. In the left-hand corner – Clovelly Corner – fun waves are ridden (but not really) by ballies. When a giant south or southeast swell is running, you will find mostly grommets in the water.

Clovelly

A short, hollow left reef at this small suburb between Kalk Bay and Fish Hoek. The reef likes glassy conditions or light northwest or northeast breezes, while a clean three- to four-foot groundswell in False Bay needs to be running. Low tide wave. Bodyboard-friendly.

Kalk Bay Reef

World-class but intensely localised left-hand reef. Not that the locals are to blame. The take-off zone is the size of a pizza. When good, this insanely hollow left resembles Pipeline. Many a hottie has cut his barrel-riding teeth here. A curious quirk is that the southeast onshore is channelled offshore by mountains behind the break.

Kalk Bay Backdoor

Hollow right-hander that breaks fast and hard on the other side of the Kalk Bay Reef.

Danger Reef

A left and right peak on a rocky ledge. A deceptively powerful wave that breaks off a shallow rock shelf. Best on a southeast swell and a light northwest wind. Gets intense, with a thick lip that sucks over a tight, bodyboard-friendly tube.

St James

Right-hand ledging right reef break off the tidal pool near the colourful bathing boxes. Can be quite a heavy three- to four-foot wave that seems like it will close out, but holds for a few lip bashes before it hits almost dry rock.

Bailey’s Reef

This is usually a short, hollow right-hand reef in front of Bailey’s Cottage. Best in a northwest wind, clean four- to five-foot groundswell and spring-high tide.

Surfers’ Corner

Old-school surf spot in Muizenberg where woodies used to fill the car park and the 10- to 12-foot elephant guns were unsheathed. Today, it’s the hub of the Cape Town surf scene. Not a powerful break by the unrelenting standards of the reefs on the western side of the peninsula, but a great hotdog wave. There are lots of peaks, if you can call them that, particularly in front of the car park. It’s offshore in northeast to northwest. On a three- to four-foot south groundswell, the outside breaks, and the wave reforms again on the inside. Malibu boards are just right here because they give you enough momentum to make it all the way through. Alternatively, you can pump your six-foot-two board up and down like a jack-in-the-box. When big, entails an arduous paddle through acres of white water to reach the backline.