Cape Schanck Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here, lookin' over the Cape Schanck forecast for the next couple of weeks. We've got a solid reef break that's consistent, but it's a pretty wild ride – strictly for the experienced crew, as it's an advanced spot. Water temp's sittin' around 57°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real chance to get wet is this Friday afternoon, the 7th. The swell's a touch under 5ft from the SW, and the wind goes glassy as the arvo goes on. That's a major score – clean, smooth lines. The combined energy's a solid 1643, which is a decent push. You'll be paddling out to some proper, well-shaped waves.

Saturday the 8th is a write-off, sorry. The wind's howling from the north at 22 mph, making a mess of things. Sunday the 9th is even worse with 28 mph offshore winds – technically clean but too hard to paddle into. Monday the 10th is a total blank with a near gale, so you're parked.

Tuesday the 11th offers a bit of hope with a 7ft SW swell, but the wind is a strong 25 mph cross-off, so it's a bit of a battle for a clean wave. The energy's there at 1644, but the wind just makes it tough. By Wednesday the 12th, the swell gets bigger to 8ft, but with a strong cross-onshore wind, it's just messy and blown out. Thursday the 13th gets even bigger, up to 12ft, but it's onshore and lumpy – only for the absolute lunatics, and even then, it's a tough ask.

After a few days of poor conditions, we get a real standout. Saturday, the 15th of August morning is the one to circle. The swell is a solid 10ft from the SW, a long 17-second period groundswell, but the wind is a light 6 mph cross-off from the ESE. The combined energy is a massive 5678, so there's a heap of power in the water. This is a point-break style setup, so that long period should wrap in beautifully. It's going to be a proper session for the experienced crew, but the crowds might be a factor here, as it's a spot that's often busy.

Sunday the 16th morning is another good one, with a 6ft SW swell and glassy conditions. The wind is dead calm, making for super clean, smooth faces. The energy is a strong 1453. It's a bit smaller than Saturday, but still a fantastic option.

The following week offers a few more chances. Monday the 17th is clean with a 5ft swell, and Tuesday the 18th morning has a beautiful 5ft SW swell with a very long 18-second period and offshore wind, giving us a combined energy of 2050. That's a magic morning for the experienced surfer, with long, powerful lines. The rest of the week sees a drop in size, with a few clean but small days, and another pulse around the 22nd with a 7ft SW swell, but the period is a short 9 seconds, so it's a bit fat and less interesting.

So, for the standout, it's the Saturday morning of the 15th of August – that's the one you want to be there for. The second best is the Tuesday morning of the 18th of August, or the glassy Sunday the 16th.

Rusty.

Read more