The Surf Window

Freights Bay

Saint Philip, Barbados

Reef breakIntermediate

A sheltered right-hand reef break on Barbados's southern tip, Freights Bay is significantly more forgiving than Soup Bowl and fires on a different swell window, an excellent intermediate wave that gets busy with local surfers on good swell.

Typical Conditions

The Surf Window

Swell Window

N
OptimalE (90°)
WindowNNE–SSE (30°–150°)

Wind

N

Offshore

Tide

Mid to high

LowMidHigh

Season

October–May

JFMAMJJASOND

The Wave

Type

Right

Bottom

Reef

Shape

Long, peeling right wall, more forgiving and longer than the Atlantic-coast breaks

Length

100–200m

Skill Level

  • •Who it's for: Intermediate
  • •Why: The reef is shallower on the inside but the take-off zone is manageable, good step-up from beach breaks

Hazards

  • •Reef inside, booties recommended
  • •Crowds, one of the most popular surf spots in Barbados
  • •Boat traffic from the nearby anchorage

Local Tips

  • •One of the most consistent waves in Barbados, fires more regularly than Soup Bowl which needs big north swell
  • •Silver Rock Beach nearby has a good beach bar for post-surf

Location

Map showing the location of Freights Bay in Saint Philip, Barbados

13.0556, -59.4650