Cape Schanck Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, pulling up the chair for a look at what’s coming our way. We’ve got a bit of a story to tell, so grab a coffee.

Right off the bat, it’s not looking like a classic start. We’ve got a solid run of days where the ocean is just not playing ball, with big winds and messy conditions messing up a lot of what would otherwise be good swell. There’s a real gap in quality from the get-go, with nothing worth paddling out for until we get to the start of the next week. Hang tight for a few days, because things do turn around.

The first real glimmer of hope arrives on Sunday, September 6th. The morning has a clean, cross-off breeze, with a 8ft SW swell – that’s a moderate wave energy, strong enough for a proper push. But it’s the Sunday afternoon that really gets the heart going. The wind goes glassy – dead calm, flat – straight out of the east at only 3 mph. The swell drops a touch to a very surfable 7ft from the southwest. That’s proper groundswell energy. For a reef like Cape Schanck, that long period means the waves will have shape and power, but you’ll get those longer lulls between sets. It’s an excellent afternoon for experienced surfers only – that 7ft is solid, and the reef won’t give you any favours. The crowds can be “often” here, so you might have some company for those clean lines.

The water temperature is sitting at 57°, pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so a decent 4/3 wetsuit is the call.

After that Sunday highlight, the week gets a bit patchy again with cross-onshore winds messing things up. Then, we jump to the next weekend. Saturday, September 12th morning offers a clean window with a cross-off north-northwest breeze at 16 mph. The swell is a punchy 7ft from the southwest. It’s a solid, clean option at this break, though the tide might make it a bit fickle – keep an eye on the banks.

Then, the true standout for the second week looks to be Sunday, September 13th. The whole day looks unreal. The morning is glassy – zero wind – with a 5ft SW swell. That’s a smaller, friendlier size, making it accessible for a broader range of skill levels. The afternoon has a light east breeze, keeping it clean with a 4ft SW swell. This is the one to circle on the calendar – a Sunday Funday with classic Cape Schanck conditions.

Overall, don’t bother with the first few days. The real best bets are the glassy Sunday, September 6th afternoon for the experienced crew, and the clean, smaller Sunday, September 13th for everyone who wants a piece of that reef. Wait for the wind to play nice, and you’ll be rewarded.

Stay stoked,
Rusty

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