ADs/Doubles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s talk about ADs/Doubles.

Right, I’ll level with you – looking at the full 16-day window, it’s a pretty grim stretch for ADs/Doubles. Every single forecast slot comes back as “poor surf conditions,” so there’s no true standout session to get excited about. The whole block is one long gap without any actual recommendation. I’d say this is one of those blank runs that just happens here sometimes – the trade winds just won’t let up.

Let’s start from Wednesday 5 August. There’s some 4ft swell from ENE with a short 10-second period, but the wind is a 12 mph cross-shore from the ENE and it’s already creating a messy cross-chop. The combined wave energy is moderate at 407. Water temp is 80°F, with a normal anomaly of +0.5°F, so about average for the time of year. That afternoon goes to 16 mph cross and the wave comment is still poor. Not a single session in the first week shakes that label.

Thursday 6 August drops right off – only 1ft swell, but at a long 14-second period from SSW. That could be promising on a better day, but with 12–19 mph cross-on and cross winds, it’s chopped to bits. Combined energy is low to moderate – 237 to 250. Friday 7 doesn’t improve: 1ft again, then 4ft from ENE later, but period drops to a weak 6 seconds. Energy is 172 to 186 – that’s weak.

Saturday 8 August sees a jump to 5ft–6ft ENE swell, period still short at 7 seconds, and the cross-shore wind firms up to 22 mph – fresh and lumpy. The energy climbs to 252–353, but the setup is getting ugly. Sunday 9 hits 6ft–7ft with the same 22 mph cross wind, and energy is strong now at 649–705. This size is getting too big for beginners, but the wind is ruining any chance of quality.

From Monday 10 August through Tuesday 11, we’re stuck in a pattern – 5ft–6ft ENE, 7 seconds, 19 mph cross winds, energy between 493 and 627. It’s all moderate fresh cross-shore chop. Wednesday 12 brings a shift to a 3ft S swell with a very long 18-second period – energy is 940, which is strong. But the cross wind is still 19–22 mph, so the surface is lumpy. That long period would normally favour a point or reef setup, but with this wind, it’s messy.

Thursday 13 August: 3ft–4ft S swell, 15–16 seconds, energy 950–1062 (strong), but cross-on and cross winds at 19–22 mph – just ugly. Friday 14 into Saturday 15 sees the swell jack up to 8ft–8ft from ENE, period 8 seconds, wind 22–25 mph. That’s expert-only size, and the wind makes it a full-on messy cross-chop. Energy is strong to very strong – 926–970.

From Sunday 16 August through Tuesday 18, the swell holds at 8ft down to 7ft, ENE, 8 seconds, with 22–25 mph winds. Energy stays strong – 663–961. By Wednesday 19 August, it drops to 5ft–6ft, still ENE, 7 seconds, with 25 mph strong cross winds – messy. Thursday 20 August ends the run with 2ft SSW groundswell at 19 seconds, energy 497–503, but still cross winds at 22 mph.

The bottom line? If you’re looking to paddle, there is no good window here. The setup is more interesting for kite surfing with that consistent cross wind and building swell, but for a surfboard? Not worth wetting the wetsuit. Forecasts can change, but for now, it’s a solid blank.

Rusty.

Read more