Newquay surfer builds free app that tells you if the surf’s on

Five websites. That’s how many Matt says he was checking before he could decide whether it was worth getting in the sea.

So he built one page to replace them all.

One page for the whole town

Matt is a local surfer who has lived in Newquay for two years. His free web app, NQY NOW, pulls together the things people in the town tend to look up before heading out.

“I got fed up checking five websites before a surf, so I built one page that answers it all,” he said. “Made in Newquay, for Newquay.”

📷The Round the Coast view in the NQY NOW app

A green, yellow or red call for 10 beaches

The app gives each of 10 beaches, from Crantock to Mawgan Porth, a green, yellow or red call. That call is worked out from the live swell, wind and tide.

A map of the coast shows them side by side with a wave height against each one, and names the best beach at that moment. Tap a beach and it opens up.

Alongside the surf call are official tide times, rain hour by hour and the time of sunset.

Pollution warnings, rip currents and defibrillators

There is a safety side to it too. Each beach has its pollution warnings and rip currents listed, along with the nearest defibrillator.

Matt says that is there so families can check before they go in.

The last bus home

Live buses are built in, including the last bus back.

Matt gives the example of someone in Porth heading to Watergate Bay. The app shows the next bus there and the last one home, “so you don’t get stranded”.

Cribbar watch

The app also lists what’s on tonight and what’s open now.

And there is a “Cribbar watch”, for the rare days when the big wave off Towan Head could be breaking.

Free, with no adverts

NQY NOW is free to use. Matt says it has no adverts, no cookies and no sign-up, and works on any phone.

He is now asking people in the town to tell him what he has left out, and there is a contact link in the app for anyone who wants to.

“I’d love to hear what locals think is missing,” he said.