Cap Sim Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let me tell you, the next couple of weeks at Cap Sim are looking like a real mixed bag, and for the most part, it’s a waiting game. The first week is a tough one – very little to get excited about with small, weak swell and constant cross-offshore winds. There’s a real gap in quality surf from now until the morning of Sunday the 12th of July, so don’t rush down there. After that, things get bigger but messy. The shine really only comes on Wednesday the 22nd of July, and again on Friday the 24th of July, with solid swell and light winds that could finally line things up.

Let’s break it down. From Thursday the 9th right through to Saturday the 11th, it’s flat and frustrating. Swell heights are only 1 ft out of the NW with a weak period of 9-10 seconds, and the combined energy is barely a whisper (22 to 34 – that’s weak). The wind is a moderate cross-off from the N, so the surface is clean enough, but there’s just no push. You’d be bobbing around with nothing to ride.

Then on Sunday the 12th of July, we finally get a pulse. The morning shows a 3 ft NW swell with a 10-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 216 (moderate). The wind is a gentle cross-off from the N, so it’s clean and the water temp is a pretty average 69°F for this time of year. It’s surfable, but don’t expect perfection. The afternoon gets a bit bigger at 4 ft but the wind picks up to a moderate breeze. Monday the 13th is ordinary – 3 ft in the morning but a short 8-second period and only 136 energy, and by the afternoon it’s back to poor conditions with stronger wind.

Tuesday the 14th through to the end of the week is a write-off for surfing. Swell builds to 6 ft, then 7 ft, then up to 8 ft by Saturday the 18th – that’s expert territory – but it’s all short-period windswell (6-8 seconds) from the N, and it’s hammered by strong breeze cross-off or offshore winds (22-28 mph). The combined energy gets high (up to 658), but the quality is poor. Honestly, with that much wind and that kind of messy, short-period swell at a reef break like Cap Sim, it looks way more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Even though the wind is offshore on Friday the 17th morning (strong offshore), that 7 ft, 7-second swell is going to be a battle – hard to paddle into and just lumpy.

Finally, a bit of hope. Wednesday the 22nd of July morning is your first real standout. Swell holds at a solid 6 ft from the N with a 9-second period and a combined energy of 484 (moderate to strong). The wind drops right out to a light 6 mph cross-off from the N, making it clean. This is the best of the whole run for a paddle surfer – decent size, clean conditions, and reasonable power.

Thursday the 23rd goes completely flat – zero energy – so sit it out. Then Friday the 24th of July morning brings another promising window. A 7 ft N swell rolls in, but the period is a short 6 seconds, so it’s going to be a bit chunky. Combined energy is 314 (moderate). With light winds from the N again, it’s clean enough for a go, but the short period means it won’t be the best shape. Still, it’s rideable.

Overall, if you’re after quality, target the morning of Wednesday the 22nd of July – that’s the pick of the bunch. The Friday the 24th is a decent backup, but it’s a bit more windswell-y. Remember, Cap Sim is a reef break that’s fairly consistent and is exposed to the NW swell, and with the optimum swell from the NW, those swells are on the right track. The crowds can show up sometimes, so you might have some company on that Wednesday morning.

Stay patient, keep an eye on the wind, and don’t bother with the first week.

Rusty.

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