Cape Paterson Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the Cape.

Straight up, I gotta be honest with you – it’s a rough start. The first week is a write-off. We’ve got a whole bunch of days where the wind is just smashing it from the wrong directions, mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the swell is all over the place. From Tuesday the 15th right through to the 21st, it’s just poor surf conditions day in, day out. We’re talking big, messy, blown-out waves, and not a clean face to be found. The combined swell energy is moderate to strong (952 to 3982), but it doesn't matter when the wind is ruining it. You’d be better off staying home and waxing your board.

There’s a real glimmer of hope though. Things start to turn around on Tuesday the 22nd of September. The morning is looking like a proper standout. We’ve got a solid 8ft SW groundswell, a long 15-second period, and the wind is offshore from the ENE, blowing nice and gentle. The water temperature is about average for this time of year. That's the kind of combo that gets the heart pumping. The break is a sheltered beach and reef setup, so that long-period groundswell should wrap in nicely. Keep in mind, with a 8ft swell, it’s probably getting a bit much for the beginners, but for the experienced crew, it’s gonna be firing. The energy is strong (2238). There could be a few people out there, so keep your eyes peeled for a set.

After that, the quality drops back a bit, but it’s not all bad. Wednesday the 23rd has a glassy morning with a 5ft SW swell and a 14-second period, which is a nice, clean option if you want something a bit more manageable. The energy is moderate (742). Then we get a run of clean, small days from the 24th through to the 25th, with glassy or gentle offshore winds. The 25th of September afternoon is a little beauty – 4ft WSW swell with a very long 17-second period and glassy conditions. The combined energy is moderate (1568), but that period will make for some really fun, lined-up waves.

The weekend of the 26th and 27th sees a big jump in size again, with a massive 10ft SW groundswell and a period up to 19 seconds. That’s serious energy (4971 to 7053). The wind is cross-offshore, so it should be clean, but 10ft is strictly for the experts. That long period is going to make it very powerful, so you need to know what you're doing.

After that, from the 28th onwards, it looks like we slide back into onshore wind and poor conditions again for the final days of the month. It’s a real shame after that promising mid-week window.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a complete bust. The standout is the morning of Tuesday the 22nd of September – get in the water then. The glassy sessions on the 23rd and 25th are also worth a paddle. The big stuff on the 26th and 27th is for the brave, but it’s a long-range call so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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