Cape Paterson Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's coming our way for Cape Paterson.

Right off the bat, it’s a bit of a rough start. The first few days are looking pretty average with a lot of onshore wind and poor conditions. The surf is there, but it’s not surfable unless you’re a glutton for punishment. We’re looking at a solid 5ft to 12ft range of SW swell, but with strong onshore winds, it’s just a washing machine. The combined energy is pumping hard, hitting 1351 (moderate) and climbing all the way to a massive 13946 (strong) by Wednesday afternoon, but it’s all for nothing with the wind. The water temp is sitting at 57°F, which is about 2°F warmer than usual for this time of year, so that’s a nice little bonus even if you're just watching.

The first real sign of hope hits on Saturday, 12th September. The morning session is where it’s at. We’ve got a clean 6ft SW swell rolling in from that ideal SW direction, with a long 16-second period between sets. This is proper groundswell, and it’s going to wrap nicely around the point. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NW, so the faces will be clean. The energy is a solid 1761 (moderate), so there’s some push. The water is still about average for the season. This is the standout of the first week. The afternoon is a bit more marginal with the wind swinging onshore, so get out early.

Sunday, 13th September morning is still a decent option. The swell drops a touch to 5ft, same long period, and the wind is a clean cross-offshore from the NNW. The energy is a bit lower at 1006 (moderate), but cleaner waves are better than big messy ones. The afternoon fades out.

Then we hit a bit of a lull through the middle of the week. The 14th and 15th are a write-off with fresh onshore winds and lumpy conditions. The swell drops right off, down to 3ft, and the energy dips to 412 (weak). It’s a good time to clean the wax off your board.

The next real standout is a long-range call, but it’s a promising one. Thursday, 17th September morning is looking fantastic. The swell is back up to a clean 6ft from the SW, with a lovely 16-second period. The wind is a cross-offshore breeze from the NNE, which is a dream for Cape Paterson. The energy is 1415 (moderate). This is a proper session. The crowds here are "sometimes" an issue, but on a Thursday morning with that quality, you might have a few locals out. This is the second big highlight.

The following weekend, Saturday, 19th September, has a sneaky look to it. The morning shows a 10ft SW swell with a 14-second period, and the wind is just a gentle cross-shore. The energy is a beefy 3887 (strong). However, this is getting into the "experts only" territory. That’s a lot of water moving. The afternoon gets messy with a strong cross-onshore and rain, so the window is small.

Towards the end of the forecast, Monday, 21st September and Tuesday, 22nd September both have some good potential. Monday shows 10ft with a 17-second period, but the wind is cross-shore to cross-on. Not perfect, but surfable for the keen. Tuesday morning, the 22nd, looks cleaner with a 8ft SW swell and a cross-offshore NNW wind. The energy is 2727 (moderate). That’s a solid day.

The rest of the week into the 23rd just fades out with onshore winds and smaller, lumpy surf.

So, to wrap it up: the best bets are Saturday morning, the 12th for the cleanest, most manageable waves, and Thursday morning, the 17th for another clean, long-period swell. The 19th is for the big-wave crew only. The rest is a mixed bag of waiting for the wind to play nice.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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