Benete Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve gotta be straight with you – the outlook for Benete over the next couple of weeks is a real mixed bag, and mostly a frustrating one. This is a reef and point break that rarely breaks, and honestly, it’s living up to that reputation. There are a few flashes of what could be, but you’ll need patience and a sharp eye on the charts.

The pattern kicks off with the best chance we’ve got in the whole run, and it’s happening this Saturday afternoon, the 22nd of August. We’ve got a solid SSW groundswell pushing in at 7 ft with a long 16-second period, and the combined energy is pumping at a strong 2202. What makes this one special is the wind – light, cross-off from the SE at 6 mph. That’s going to groom the waves clean, giving you excellent, lined-up surf. It’s a big one though, over 5 ft, so this is strictly for experienced surfers. The water temp is sitting at 79°, pretty normal for this time of year with only a tiny -0.4° anomaly. This Saturday afternoon is the standout, no question.

After that, from Sunday morning the 23rd of August, things get messy. The swell holds around 6 ft to 7 ft with a similar 15-16 second period, but the wind swings cross or cross-on, and the conditions turn marginal. You’ll be dealing with light cross-shore chop and questionable tide windows. The energy is still moderate to strong (1252 up to 2443), but the quality just isn’t there for a good paddle. The same story runs through Monday and Tuesday – consistent swell size but wind-ruffled faces and marginal scores.

Wednesday the 26th sees the swell start to dip under 7 ft, and we get a brief moment of lighter cross-shore wind, but the period shortens to 14 seconds and the energy drops. Still, it’s not clean enough to get excited about. Thursday the 27th is a write-off – weak 4 ft swell with a cross-on breeze and messy conditions.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting again, but with a big caveat. Friday morning the 28th of August, the swell jumps back up to 8 ft from the SSW with a 17-second period, and the combined energy is massive at 4273. That’s powerful, long-period groundswell. But the wind is a steady 9 mph cross-on from the south, so it’s going to be choppy and difficult. At 8 ft, this is expert territory only, and with the wind on it, it might be more suited to kitesurfing than a clean paddle session. The afternoon is the same story, just as big but still cross-on.

From the 29th of August onward, the swell slowly fades, dropping from 6 ft down to 4 ft by the 31st. The wind stays mostly cross-on or cross, keeping the surface bumpy. There’s a glimmer on Tuesday the 1st of September afternoon – the swell comes back up to 6 ft from the SW with a 16-second period, and the wind swings to a light cross-off from the ESE at 6 mph. That’s clean again, and the energy is strong at 2733. Another excellent window for experienced surfers, but it’s over a week away, so keep an eye on it.

The second week is pretty thin. The swell stays between 4 ft and 8 ft, but the wind is almost always cross-on, and the conditions are marginal or poor. There’s no real standout after that Tuesday afternoon. The period shortens to 13-14 seconds, and the energy drops into the moderate range. By the 5th and 6th of September, we’re looking at poor surf conditions, so don’t plan a trip around it.

So, to sum it up: Benete is a rarely breaking spot, and this forecast reflects that. Your best bet is Saturday afternoon, 22nd August for clean, powerful waves, and a second look at Tuesday afternoon, 1st September if you’re willing to wait. Everything else is a fight with the wind or the tide. If you’re not an expert, steer clear of the bigger days. And if the wind stays cross-on on those big swells, the kites will be having more fun than the paddlers.

Rusty.

Read more