Cape Schanck Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, grab a coffee, 'cause I've had a good look at the charts for our local zone, and it's a bit of a mixed bag. We've got Cape Schanck on the radar, and honestly, for the first week or so, it's a grim tale. The westerlies are howling, and the ocean is just a mess. We're looking at a long, frustrating wait until things finally clean up.

Let's start with the immediate. Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th are write-offs. Strong winds from the west and west-southwest are just shredding the surface. Even with a solid 8 ft to 12 ft of SW groundswell (with a very long period of 15 seconds), the wave energy is high (up to 9979), but it's all for nothing. The wind is making it unsurfable. You'd be better off kiting in this than trying to paddle.

Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th are a bit of a transition. Sunday is still a no-go, choppy and cross-shore. But Monday morning, the wind finally starts to play ball. It's not perfect, but we get a clean window with a cross-offshore breeze. The swell drops to 5 ft, still from the SW with a period of 11 seconds, and the energy is moderate (698). The scores are low, but it's a sign of life. The afternoon is even better, with a gentle breeze and clean conditions. Not a standout, but a flicker of hope.

Then Tuesday the 28th is a cruel joke. The wind comes back with a vengeance, a strong breeze of 28 mph. Even though the swell is a decent 6 ft to 7 ft, and the period is a solid 12-13 seconds, it's just too messy. Wednesday the 29th is a write-off again, onshore and choppy, though the swell is a solid 8 ft to 10 ft.

The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, looks like the first week of August. The water temp is sitting around 58°, which is a touch warmer than the usual average for this time of year, but nothing wild.

Now, here’s the good stuff. Monday the 3rd of August is the first real glimmer. The swell is a solid 10 ft from the SW, with a very long 16-second period. The wind is light, from the SE creating a gentle cross-shore. The energy is pumped up to 4271. It’s going to be a big, powerful swell. For a spot like Cape Schanck, a reef break, that long-period groundswell will be perfect, offering proper, lined-up waves. It’s going to be a big day for experienced surfers only – 10 ft is no joke.

But the absolute best on offer, the one I’m circling in red, is Tuesday the 4th of August. The wind goes completely offshore, light from the north, and the swell is still a very respectable 5 ft. The period is a long 14 seconds. The energy is moderate (1040), and the conditions are described as "very good". This is the window. The morning will be clean, glassy, and punchy. For a consistent, advanced reef break, this is the pick of the bunch. The crowds will be possible, so get in early.

After that, Wednesday the 5th is tiny, with a glassy 3 ft swell, but it’s a nice little session for a longboard. The rest of the week into the 8th sees more clean, cross-offshore winds, but the swell is a bit smaller and the winds pick up again. It stays clean, but the energy drops off.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a painful wait. The standout is without a doubt Tuesday the 4th of August at Cape Schanck. That’s the one you want. The 3rd of August is also a big, powerful groundswell day for the experts. The second week looks promising but is less certain as we get further out. Fingers crossed it holds.

Rusty.

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