Cape Schanck Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright mate, let’s talk in feet and miles per hour.

It’s a rough start for Cape Schanck. We’ve got a solid 6ft SW groundswell with a long 14-second period rolling in on Saturday, but the wind is a bloody mess—cross-on from the WNW, and the water is choppy. It’s a write-off. This is a reef break, advanced only, so we need it clean. That first couple of days, Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th of August, are nothing but poor surf conditions with cross-on or onshore winds and moderate breezes. The combined swell energy is strong, but it’s just not rideable.

Now, Monday the 31st of August is where it gets interesting. We’ve got 7ft SW swell, still a long 14-second period, and combined energy is ramping up in the morning, and then a big jump in the afternoon. The wind eases right off in the afternoon—light SSW, almost onshore. The score is still marginal due to tide or something, but that’s the first real window. This is your best early bet. It’s still a bit messy in the morning with a gentle cross-onshore, but the afternoon looks like a chance for some clean-ish sets if the tide plays ball.

Tuesday the 1st of September is a shame. We get a big NW wind howling at 25 mph, cross-off, so the surface will be clean, but the 6ft SW swell is getting hammered by that strong breeze. The combined energy is there, but the wind is just too strong for a comfortable paddle. It’s a gear-shredder. Not really worth it for most.

Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd are back to onshore junk—poor surf conditions with fresh cross-onshore winds and choppy water. The swell sticks around 6ft to 8ft, but it’s blown out. On Thursday afternoon, that 8ft swell with a 14-second period hits high energy, but the SW onshore wind kills it. This is kite-surfing territory for sure.

Friday the 4th of September looks a bit better for the early risers. The morning has a 7ft SW swell (13-second period) with a NNW cross-off wind at 19 mph. That’s clean. The afternoon gets even more energy with a 15-second period, but the wind picks up to 22 mph. It’s still clean, but it’s going to be a battle. If you’re an advanced surfer, the morning session on Friday is a standout. The swell is solid, the direction is right on for optimum SE, and it’s clean.

Then we hit a wall. The weekend of the 5th and 6th of September is a total washout. Near gale-force winds, 13ft and 11ft swell on Saturday, blown out completely. Sunday, the wind is still near gale from the NW and NNW, making it dangerous and messy. Don’t bother.

The following week is a long shot. Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th are still poor surf conditions with strong winds and messy seas. Wednesday the 9th of September, the wind finally eases in the afternoon—SW at 6 mph, onshore, with a 10ft SW swell and a very long 17-second period. Combined energy is huge. The score is the best we’ve seen. This is the real standout for the whole run. It’s for experts only—10ft is definitely advanced territory. That long period will make it powerful, but at Cape Schanck’s reef, it could be incredible. Clean conditions, glassy water. If you can wait, Wednesday afternoon is the one.

Thursday the 10th looks similar, 10ft SW swell but with a slightly shorter 15-second period, and again light onshore wind in the afternoon. Good, but not quite as good as Wednesday.

After that, the swell drops off and the wind gets messy again. The 12th of September has a 10ft SW swell with a 12-second period and cross-off wind, but it’s clean. It’s still big for intermediates. The 13th is smaller, 5ft, but the wind is strong again.

Overall, the wait is worth it. Wednesday the 9th of September afternoon is the best on offer, by far. Clean, big, powerful SW groundswell at Cape Schanck. The Monday the 31st of August afternoon and Friday the 4th of September morning are your other windows. There’s a gap of a few days with no recommendations around the 5th through 8th, so plan around that.

Rusty.

Read more