Cape Paterson Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag for Cape Paterson over the next couple of weeks. The first few days are a write-off, with onshore winds and messy swell that’s not worth paddling out for. The solid groundswell through the middle of the period is let down by strong winds, making it a challenge even for the experienced crew. The best window looks like a short, glassy window on Sunday the 26th, but even that’s got a catch.

The first real chance to get wet comes on Friday the 17th. The morning is looking clean with a 6ft SW groundswell, period out at 16 seconds, and a light NNW cross-offshore breeze. That’s a decent long-period groundswell, which means good shape but longer waits between sets. Combined energy is strong at 1694. It’s a solid option for advanced surfers at this exposed beach and reef setup, though you’ll likely have company – crowds are sometimes there. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

Saturday the 18th drops off a bit. Swell is 6ft from the WSW, period dropping to 14 seconds, but the wind goes cross-shore and the energy is still moderate at 1332. It’s surfable but nothing special. Sunday the 19th morning has a lighter 4ft WSW swell, period 12 seconds, and a cross-offshore breeze from the N, keeping it clean. Energy is moderate (562). The afternoon goes glassy, but the swell drops to 3ft, so it’s small and ordinary.

The middle of the week from Monday 20th to Thursday 23rd is a run of poor to marginal conditions. Winds pick up, swell drops, and the energy is weak to moderate. Not worth planning around.

Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th see a serious spike in swell, with 8ft and 7ft from the SW on the 24th, but it’s hammered by strong onshore and cross-onshore winds, creating messy conditions. The combined energy is very strong (3295 and 1960), but the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Only for the hardcore, and even then, it’s nasty.

Now, the standout window: Sunday the 26th morning. The swell is 6ft from the WSW, period 13 seconds, with glassy conditions and a light WNW breeze. The combined energy is strong at 1126, and the forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is the pick of the whole 16 days. The water temp is about average for the time of year. It’s an advanced break, and with that solid groundswell and glass, it’ll be a special session. The afternoon turns onshore and messy again, so get in early.

Monday the 27th morning has a similar 8ft WSW swell, period 12 seconds, with a cross-offshore NNW breeze, so it’s clean. But the energy is high (1576), and the wind picks up strong through the day, so it’s a marginal option. Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th mornings offer clean conditions with offshore or cross-offshore winds, with swell around 5ft to 7ft, but the energy drops off, and the quality is just okay.

The final few days from Thursday 30th to Friday 31st are back to onshore winds and rain, with strong swell but poor conditions. Not worth a look.

Overall, the best bet is that Sunday morning the 26th – glassy, 6ft SW groundswell, and clean. Get it while it’s good.

Rusty.

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