Boneyards Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a coffee and listen up. This is your surf outlook for Boneyards, running right through to mid-September.

First thing you need to know: water temp is sitting at 57°, which is a solid 3° colder than usual for this time of year. It’s a bit of a shock to the system, so a good 5/4 or at least some booties are going to be your best mate.

The opening days of September are a mixed bag and not for the faint-hearted. On Tuesday the 1st, we’ve got a solid 12ft swell thumping in from the SW with a 13-second period, and combined energy is a thumping 3905 – that’s some serious power. The wind is a light cross-shore, so it’s not a total washout, but the overall wave comment points to questionable tide conditions for the average punter. Wednesday the 2nd morning looks a lot cleaner, with a 10ft SW swell, still a good 13-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze. The energy is still massive at 3471. This is a short window for experienced surfers only; that’s a heavy, powerful wave. The afternoon gets choppy again with cross-shore winds.

Thursday the 3rd sees the size drop off quickly. The morning has an 12ft swell, but it’s short period at 9 seconds from the S, and the energy is still very high at 2717. The wind is a cross-off, so it’s clean, but that short period makes it a lumpy, less attractive option. By Thursday afternoon, the wind is howling from the SE at 31 mph, dropping the swell to 5ft. That’s a kite-surfing day, not a paddle surfing day. This rough, windy, and poor-quality spell stretches right through Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning the 6th.

Now, Sunday the 6th is where it starts to get interesting. The morning brings in a beautiful 7ft SW groundswell with a very long 16-second period. Combined energy is a hefty 2247. And the wind? Light offshore from the ESE. That’s a proper, clean, lined-up swell. The longer period will make for some great shaped waves on this reef, but expect longer waits between sets. This is your standout morning for experienced surfers. Sunday afternoon stays clean with a 5ft, 15-second swell and light winds.

After that, we hit a bit of a flat, messy stretch. Monday the 7th through to Wednesday the 9th is dominated by weak, cross-onshore winds and small, inconsistent swell. Not worth your time.

Pickup starts again on Thursday the 10th. A moderate offshore breeze from the ESE cleans up a 6ft swell, and it’s got some decent energy at 714. The period is 11 seconds, so it’s a bit more of a workable, everyday wave. This is a solid option.

Into the second week, things are more unsettled. The 13th of September looks bumpy with a strong 6ft onshore wind swell. Not good. The 14th and 15th are again blown out by near-gale force winds.

But then, look at Wednesday the 16th of September. This is the real long-range standout. We’ve got a massive 10ft SW groundswell rolling in with a very long 15-second period. The energy is absolutely pumping at 3595. The wind is a light cross-offshore breeze, and the wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This one is a promising call for the horizon, but it’s a long way out. If it holds, this will be the session of the month. The afternoon drops to 8ft with the same long period, still clean under a moderate cross-offshore wind.

So, if you’re an experienced surfer looking for power and quality, your two best windows are the morning of Sunday the 6th and the morning of Wednesday the 16th. The 16th is the bigger, more powerful option, but the 6th will be cleaner and less windy. Boneyards can be inconsistent, but when it gets these swells and the right wind, it fires. Just be aware of the crowds, which can show up sometimes when it’s good.

Rusty.

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