Cape Paterson Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a hard look at what’s on the menu for Cape Paterson. It’s a bit of a waiting game, but there’s a glimmer of hope way down the track.

Honestly, the next week and a half is a write-off. We’re looking at a solid 13-day stretch where the wind is just a nightmare. From Monday the 20th right through until the end of the month, it’s a constant battle of strong cross-shore, cross-onshore, and onshore winds. The sea state is described as “lumpy,” “messy,” and “choppy” – there’s no way to sugarcoat it, it’s just poor. We do see some solid swell pulses in there, with the combined energy hitting some big numbers, like 5361 on Thursday the 23rd and even 7117 on Friday the 24th, but the wind is absolutely ruining any chance of a clean wave. That 3.5m swell on Friday the 24th with a near-gale cross-shore wind? That’s not for paddling, that’s a kite-surfing setup if anything. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is about normal for the time of year, so no surprises there.

The only break in the area is Cape Paterson itself, a sheltered beach-and-reef spot that normally needs a clean SW swell. The issue is, the wind is all wrong for it.

Now, finally, after that long, bleak stretch, we get a glimmer of light. On Sunday, August 2nd, things start to turn. The morning is looking clean with a light offshore breeze from the NNE and a 1.4m SW swell (1908 combined energy). It’s a solid start. But the true standout is the Sunday afternoon. We’re looking at near-glass conditions with a 2.5m SW groundswell (14-second period, 4054 combined energy). The report says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers,” and that’s the best call we’ve had all outlook. The wind is described as “glass” – dead calm. That’s a major positive. This swell is a bit hefty for beginners, but for the experienced crew, if the banks are right, this could be a proper session. A long-period swell like this can sometimes be a bit straight at a beach break, but Cape Paterson has a reef component, so it might focus it nicely.

The next day, Monday August 3rd, still has some clean-ish morning conditions with a 1.4m swell, but it’s a step down. After that, things get a bit marginal again. So, if you can hold out, that Sunday the 2nd is your window. It’s a long way off, so keep an eye on the charts, but as of now, that’s the one to circle.

Rusty.

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