Cape Paterson Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and here’s the outlook for Cape Paterson, starting now.

The forecast opens on Friday, 10 July with solid surf, but it quickly turns into a wild, windy mess for days on end. We’ve got a big run of blown-out, overpowered swell from the 12th to the 14th, followed by a slow clean-up that finally delivers a couple of sweet windows next week.

The standout session is Friday morning, 10 July at Cape Paterson. The water’s sitting at 58°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year. We’ve got clean 5ft swell from the WSW with a 15-second period, light cross-off breeze from the north at 6 mph, and only moderate wave energy (1069). It’s pumping but not too heavy—advanced crew will love it. Waves will have that long-period power, so expect some proper lines, especially with the sheltered SW exposure. Crowds are sometimes a thing here, so you might have company.

Friday afternoon goes glassy with 5ft SW swell, period still 15 seconds, and calm winds. Clean, but the energy drops a bit (967). Still a very nice session.

Saturday, 11 July is a write-off. Morning’s 4ft with a 12 mph north breeze giving it a cross-off chop, then afternoon jumps to 25 mph north wind—howling, with only 3ft leftover. Don’t bother.

Sunday, 12 July through to Tuesday, 14 July is ugly. Swell jumps to 13ft to 15ft with strong to very strong energy (4941 to 5710) but the wind is a screaming 28–31 mph from the NW and W. Heavy cross-shore and cross-onshore conditions, messy and dangerous. This is kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing.

Wednesday, 15 July sees the swell drop to 10ft (SW, 14 seconds), but still a cross-on breeze from the WNW at 9–12 mph. Choppy, lumpy, only marginal. Not worth it.

Thursday, 16 July morning is a beauty. 5ft SW swell, 14-second period, light NW cross-off breeze at 6 mph, and moderate energy (1047). Clean, solid, and well-shaped. This is the second standout. Afternoon gets a light onshore from the SSW, so it’s only marginal.

Friday, 17 July morning is another good one. 6ft SW swell with a very long 16-second period, light NNW cross-off at 6 mph, and moderate energy (1571). That’s groundswell at its finest—long lines, heaps of push. Afternoon fades a bit with a light cross-shore.

Saturday, 18 July stays clean with 5ft WSW swell, 14-second period, and gentle north breeze in the morning. Good, not great.

From Sunday, 19 July onward, the surf drops off hard. Swell stays under 4ft, and the wind is howling—25 mph from the NNW on Monday, 20 July, and then a mix of onshore and cross-shore through to the end of the forecast. The few clean windows are all blown out by strong winds or too small. A long gap from 19 July to the end with no real recommendations.

No real standouts in the second week—just a few clean but small windows that get trashed by wind. Keep an eye on the charts, but for now, hit Friday morning the 10th or Thursday morning the 16th.

Rusty.

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