in terms of surfing, when l read the surf reports it often only has wind direction ie: north easterlies etc but l dont know if that means onshore or offshore and l know offshore is better.thanx

Wind direction refers to where the wind is originating or coming from. Therefore, if the wind is from the east and you along the California coast, it is offshore. West winds are onshore. etc.

You need to know which direction your break faces. Wind direction indicates where the wind is coming from. If you live somewhere with a craggy coast line it is possible to have nearby beaches with one beach blowing onshore and the other offshore.

onshore in the west is easterlie, crappy surf, in the east it is westerlt
off shore is the opposite, good surf

Onshore refers to winds that blow from ocean to land. Offshore would be winds that blow from land to ocean. Sideshore would be winds that blow parallel to the wave direction.

Light offshore winds produce the best conditions. Onshore winds produce sloppy conditions and blow in the sea creatures like Portuguese Man-O-Wars, water mites that bite, along with the rubbish that are floating in the ocean.

offshore winds come from the land and go towards the shore. onshore come from the ocean onto the land. they make the waves crappy.

onshore= wind blows from water to beach
offshore= wind blows from beach to water ( usually makes waves glassy)

quick simmary-
offshore - blowing out to sea
onshore - blowing onto the beach
cross shore - blowing onlong the beach