About

Vetchies does not get very crowded as when it does work the more popular Northern town waves are world class. But because of the small takeoff can get clogged up easily.

Atmosphere:
At 3-4ft on high tide, with no wind, its truly a wonder to behold. Be advised, the wave comes out of about 30 feet deep water onto 2-4 feet of water. There's plenty rock boils that suck dry, unless the tide is at it's fullest. The take off is fast and the barrels unforgiving. But make a deep barrel and it will blow your mind in sheer exhilaration.

Additional Info:
A rare, fast, hollow and dangerous wave that funnels over a very shallow, sunken harbor wall, offering a heart pounding tube when it breaks over 3ft.

The reef/pier protected from the predominant swell direction as it's situated about 150 meters away from the Durban Harbor so, only really works on huge South swells (usually in winter) which wrap around the Harbor and rush onto the reef. Also breaks in summer, when cyclone, east swells hit the reef more flat on. These conditions are not ideal as it makes it more sectony and tends to cause ribs/rebound waves to bounce off the Harbor and ruin the ride.

There are two sections to the wave. The 'Pinacle' (named after the 'Pinnacle' or 'block' that sticks out of the water at the end of the reef) on the outside, and the 'inside' section'. The 'Pinnacle' is the more serious, hollower section, that is only recommended for experts. There is a deep section 40 meters down from the 'Pinnacle' where the wave fades before breaking on the inside section. The inside section is less hollow and has more of a bowling wall that offers some rail burring funand rides up to 150 meters.

It is a long paddle out, about 400 meters to the 'Pinacle', takes about 6-minutes of constant paddling. When surfing the 'Pinacle', it's better to paddle out on the inside of the reef where the curvature of the break and slight rip cut's the paddling time to the takeoff down by about 2-mins.

Can link up on the right swell and run from the 'Pinnacle' all the way to the beach, but very rare to find these conditions.

breaks from 2ft up to 5ft before it gets too gnarly where the bravest only survive. At 6ft it tends to close out from Limestone reef with a foam ball that washed over the 'Pinnacle' section, until reforms on the inside section section.

Location

Access

On the extreme south end of the Durban Beachfront. Drive down the promenade. park at marine Lifesaving Club and walk south from their. Alternately, park on the Harbor's North Pier, suit up and paddle from there.

Wave Characteristics

Ideal Conditions

Crowd

Dangers

Urchins, Rocks, Man-made danger (buoys etc..), Pollution, Sharks

Videos

None