Cape Paterson Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got a look at what’s coming up for Cape Paterson. This is a pretty sheltered, advanced-level spot that’s mostly a reef and beach mix, and it doesn’t fire all the time. The water’s sitting at 57° – that’s about 1.8° warmer than usual for this time of year, so it’s a touch on the mild side.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but the good news is there’s surf on offer right from the get-go. Friday the 31st is a bit of a write-off – only 4.3ft of SW swell with a 12-second period, but the wind’s cross and it’s messy. The combined energy sits at 491, which is weak, so it’s not worth paddling out for. Saturday the 1st of August looks much better. The morning is clean with a 3.3ft SW swell, light N wind giving us cross-off conditions, and a combined energy of 546 – still moderate but clean. Then Saturday afternoon is the standout for the first week: the wind goes glassy, the swell jumps to 5.2ft from the SW with a very long 18-second period, and the energy pumps up to 1471. That’s a proper groundswell – long gaps between sets, but when they come, they’ll have shape. This is your best bet for the first week, especially for the more experienced crew. The reef setup should handle that long period nicely.

Sunday the 2nd is still solid with 5.2ft of SW swell and 16-second period, but the wind gets up to 16 mph from the NW in the afternoon, and it’s listed as “marginal.” The energy is still strong at 1245, but the wind’s going to spoil it. Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th are a no-go – onshore winds and rain, with Tuesday seeing 6.9ft of lumpy WSW swell. That’s too big for beginners and messy for experts. Wednesday the 5th drops right off to 2.0ft, and the rest of the week is a mix of small swell and cross-onshore chop. Not worth it.

Then we get a solid second pulse. Friday the 7th of August morning is a ripper: 4.6ft of WSW swell, 16-second period, light N wind, and a combined energy of 1528 – that’s proper. The morning is clean and cross-off. Saturday the 8th is average, but Sunday the 9th of August morning is the big standout for the whole outlook. You’ve got 7.2ft of WSW swell with a 13-second period, a light NE offshore wind, and the energy is 1668 – strong. That’s a clean, offshore day at Cape Paterson, and it’s pushing into expert territory at that size. The crowd here can turn up sometimes, so get in early. That Sunday morning is the best on offer.

After that, things get wild. Monday the 10th of August morning sees a 13.1ft WSW swell with an 18-second period and a massive 9177 combined energy – that’s very strong, but it’s also got a 28 mph cross-off wind. That’s more likely a kite session than a paddle session for most. The rest of the second week is a mix of big swell with strong onshore or cross winds, so it’s a real mixed bag. The 9th of August is your clear winner. Stay safe out there.

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