Aileen's Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for Aileen’s (reef setup) over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I’ll be straight with you – the first week is a bit of a bust. We’ve got some swell running through, but the wind is just nasty. Wednesday the 19th kicks off with a 7ft W swell but that Westerly wind is howling at 35 km/h onshore, making it a total washout. The energy is moderate at 725, but it’s not worth paddling out for. The water temp is sitting at 17°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – a little bonus but not enough to save the session.

The rest of that week and into the weekend is flat and weak. Swell heights drop to 1.0ft by Saturday the 22nd with energy levels barely ticking over at 37 – that’s just not moving the needle. The 23rd is even smaller, with 0.7ft waves. The wind finally goes light and clean on Sunday morning with a light offshore breeze, but there’s simply no swell to work with. You’d be better off staying home.

There’s a little pulse on Monday the 24th morning – a 2ft WNW groundswell with a 12-second period, which is nice and long, and the wind is offshore from the ESE at 15 km/h. The energy is only 145 though, so it’s not exactly pumping. The conditions are clean, but the surf is very ordinary. You might get a few if you’re desperate, but it’s not the standout.

The real standout, and the one to circle on your calendar, is Sunday the 30th of August. That morning we’ve got a 7ft W swell with a 9-second period and moderate energy at 634. The wind is from the SE at 10 km/h, putting it light cross-offshore, and the forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is the one where the stars align – clean, decent size, and that reef should be working nicely. This is an advanced wave though, and with 7ft, it’s not for the beginners. The Aileen’s reef is inconsistent and can be fickle, but when it’s on, it’s on. Crowds are often a factor here, so get in early.

After that, the swell sticks around but the winds get ugly again – Monday the 31st and Tuesday the 1st of September have 7ft to 7ft W swells, but onshore winds in the 25-30 km/h range ruin it. The energy is strong (897 and 821), but it’s messy and lumpy. By Thursday the 3rd of September, the swell drops to 3ft and the wind goes heavy – 60 km/h from the SE with heavy rain. That’s a hard pass, even if the conditions are theoretically clean.

So, bottom line: the first week is a write-off. The second week has a golden window on the morning of the 30th – that’s your best bet. After that, we’re back to wrestling with the wind. Don’t hold your breath for the rest.

Stay stoked,
Rusty

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