ADs/Doubles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, this is Rusty.

Alright, look, I’m gonna level with ya. For ADs/Doubles, the next week and a half is pretty grim. We’ve got a long, frustrating stretch from now right through until about the 16th of September where the wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore and the wave quality is just poor. There’s no point sugar-coating it – the combined swell energy is mostly in the moderate range, but the onshore wind messes it all up.

Things shift a bit from the 17th of September. That Thursday morning sees a jump in swell height to 7 ft from the ENE, with combined energy hitting 1176 – that’s strong. But the wind is a fresh cross-shore (35 km/h) and it’s lumpy. The wave comment calls it “marginal,” not good. This is not for beginners – that size and wind makes it a challenge. It stays like that through the 18th and into the 19th, with energy readings around 1252 and 1159, but still messy wind. A couple of those afternoons see a very long-period SSW groundswell (16-18 seconds) that brings strong energy, but again, the wind is cross and the surf is lumpy.

There’s one small window. On the 25th of September, Friday morning, the wind drops to a gentle 15 km/h cross-on from the ENE, but the swell is still 6 ft from the E at 8 seconds. It’s still not clean. The afternoon of the 25th and the morning of the 26th of September is actually the best bet in this whole outlook. The wind goes very light – 10 km/h cross-on on Friday afternoon, and Saturday morning the 26th sees a light 10 km/h *onshore* wind from the SE. The swell hangs around 6 ft from the E, and combined energy is 725. It’s still “marginal,” but with much less wind, it’s the closest we get to a chance. The break here has an ESE optimum swell direction, and the swell is coming from the E, so that’s not a bad match. ADs/Doubles is fairly consistent, which helps, but it’s exposed and crowds can be “often,” so expect company if it looks rideable.

Don’t get excited about the big Thursday the 17th or the following days – that 7 ft with a fresh cross breeze is a messy, powerful ocean. For the average surfer, it’s a write-off. If you’re desperate, pencil in the 26th of September morning – light wind, decent size, and it might just be rideable. Otherwise, this is a long blank run. A gap of almost two weeks with no real quality.

Stay patient, the forecasts can change.

Rusty.

Read more