Cape Paterson Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, grab a coffee and settle in, it's Rusty here. Let's talk about what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

We're looking at a pretty wild ride, to be honest. The first few days have some clean windows, but the middle of the week looks like a write-off for paddle surfing—more of a kite session. The standout is definitely the Saturday the 15th, with a solid pulse of groundswell and clean conditions. Let's get into it.

The forecast kicks off on Friday the 7th of August, but it's a bit of a dud. We've got a 5.6ft WSW swell with a 15-second period, so there's plenty of energy in the water, but the wind is a cross-on, making it choppy. Not what we're after.

Now, Saturday the 8th is where it gets interesting. The swell drops a touch to 4.9ft, but it's from the WSW with a 16-second period, which is proper groundswell energy. The wind is a cross-off and light, so the waves will be clean. The morning looks better, but the afternoon with a light NNW breeze is also a winner. This is a good time to be out at Cape Paterson, with a clean 4.6ft to 4.9ft swell. Just keep in mind this spot is a beach and reef setup, so it's for advanced surfers only.

Sunday the 9th has a bit of a NE wind, which is offshore, but it's blowing 15 mph in the morning and 19 mph in the afternoon. That's a moderate breeze, and the swell is dropping to 3.6ft, so the energy is fading. It's clean, but the waves are small and the wind is strong. Not the best.

Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th are a write-off. The swell pumps up to 5.9ft on Monday, but the wind is a cross-shore or onshore, blowing 22-25 mph, creating a lumpy, choppy mess. The energy is huge, but it's unsurfable for a paddle board. The same story continues Tuesday with a 6.9ft swell and strong cross-off wind making it clean but wind-affected. It's a no-go.

Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th are big, dangerous, and messy. We're looking at 9.8ft to 13.1ft swells with periods of 15-18 seconds. The energy is extreme. The wind is a fresh cross-onshore, making it lumpy and choppy. This is strictly for the big-wave chargers, but even then, the conditions look too rough. It's more of a strong wind warning than a surf forecast.

Friday the 14th is a bit of a relief, but the swell is still a solid 8.2ft to 9.8ft with a 14-16 second period, and the wind is cross-onshore. The energy is huge, but it's choppy and messy. Not a good day for a paddle.

And then we get to the standout of the forecast period. Saturday the 15th of August. The swell drops to a manageable 7.9ft to 8.2ft, still from the SW with a 16-second period, so it's a proper groundswell with plenty of power. The wind swings around to a light SE breeze, which is cross-off and clean. The waves will be well-shaped, and the long period means long lulls between sets. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The water is about 56.7°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that's a nice bonus.

Sunday the 16th continues the good run. The swell drops to 6.2ft, still from the SW with a 14-second period, and the wind is a light cross-off from the E. The energy is moderate, and the waves will be clean. It's a good day to follow up the Saturday session.

Monday the 17th is a bit of a sleeper. The swell is 4.6ft with a 13-second period, and the wind is glassy in the morning—a light NNW breeze of 3 mph. The energy is low, but it's clean and surfable. The afternoon gets a light cross-on, so nothing special.

Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th are similar: 4.3ft to 4.6ft swells with a 14-15 second period, clean with light cross-off winds. The energy is moderate. These are good, small-wave days for a cruise.

The end of the window, from Thursday the 20th to Saturday the 22nd, is a bit of a mixed bag. The swell drops right off to 3.3ft on Thursday, but the wind is clean. Friday the 21st has a 9.8ft swell with a short 7-second period and a lot of energy, but the wind is offshore. The short period means it'll be a bit wonky and won't hold together well

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