Cape Schanck Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Cape Schanck over the next couple of weeks.

First off, we’ve got a bit of a rough patch to get through. The early part of the week is a write-off, with howling onshore winds and big, messy swell. The water temp is sitting around 57°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th are a total loss – strong winds and poor surf conditions, with a big nasty 16ft swell on Wednesday morning making it dangerously big and onshore. Not for the faint-hearted. Kite surfers might be having a field day, but for us paddle surfers, it’s a hard pass.

Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st morning are still messy, but you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Friday afternoon, though, that’s where it gets interesting. The wind drops right off, goes glassy, and we’ve got a clean 4ft SW swell rolling in. It’s small, but glassy conditions at Cape Schanck are a rare treat. The combined energy sits at 547, so it’s not a powerhouse, but it’ll be clean and fun for the experienced crew.

Now, Saturday and Sunday (1st and 2nd of August) are worth a mention. The wind swings offshore on Saturday morning, with a 4ft SW swell, and the period jumps to 19 seconds on Saturday afternoon, pushing 6ft. That’s proper groundswell, and it’ll wrap into the reef nicely. The combined energy is 2490 on Saturday afternoon, so there’s some grunt there. Sunday morning holds similar size with clean offshore winds. This is the best run of the outlook.

Monday the 3rd of August is a bit of a dud in the morning, but by the afternoon, the wind goes light cross-shore and we get an 8ft SW swell. That’s getting solid, and with a combined energy of 4016, it’s got some punch. Only for the experienced – this is proper Cape Schanck power.

The standout of the whole forecast, though, is Friday the 7th of August. Morning brings a 6ft SW swell with a gentle offshore breeze, and the afternoon holds 7ft with light offshore winds. The combined energy is over 2000, and the surf is described as excellent for experienced surfers. This is the one to circle on the calendar. It’s a week away, so it’s not locked in, but it looks like a gem.

After that, the weekend of the 8th and 9th gets blown out again, with strong northerly winds and tiny swell. The following week looks inconsistent, with a few small windows but nothing that really stands out.

So, if you’re keen, Saturday the 1st through Sunday the 2nd, and especially Friday the 7th, are your best shots. The reef will be firing, and the wind will be kind. Just be ready for the crowd – Cape Schanck can get a few heads when it’s good.

Rusty.

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