Cape Schanck Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Cape Schanck. This is a solid reef set-up that’s fairly exposed to the swell, and it’s a consistent spot for the advanced crew. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

We’ve got a bit of a wait for the real good stuff. The early part of the week is a bit of a write-off with messy winds and marginal conditions. Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th are looking pretty average – cross-shore and onshore winds, lumpy, with a score that’s nothing to write home about. The energy is there, with combined swell energy in the 2000-2400 range, but the wind is just ruining it.

The first real standout window opens up on Friday 17th July. The morning is clean with a light cross-offshore breeze from the NNW, and the afternoon is where it’s at. That afternoon session sees a light breeze, 7ft of SW groundswell with a very long 16-second period, and the combined energy hitting 2500. The wind is cross-off, so the waves will have some shape. This is a top-tier call for experienced surfers, but it’s a reef, so you need to know what you’re doing. The long period means the sets will be clean and powerful, but there will be longer waits between them.

Saturday 18th July is also a beauty. The morning still has that light cross-off breeze, dropping to 6ft, but the real gem is the afternoon. It goes glassy, with the wind swinging to the east at only 3 mph, and the swell is still a fun 5ft from the SW. The energy is moderate at 880, but the clean, glassy conditions will make it a dream to paddle out and catch long, walling waves. This is a solid pick for any surfer who can handle a reef.

After that, the window tightens. Sunday 19th and Monday 20th drop off in size and quality, with the swell fading and winds picking up. It goes pretty flat by Monday afternoon, with barely any energy (8). There’s a gap of poor or marginal days until Thursday 23rd July, when a new pulse of swell arrives, but it gets hammered by strong cross-onshore winds, making it lumpy and messy. That’s more of a kite-surfing show than a clean paddle session.

The next week is a bit of a mixed bag. Friday 24th July sees another big 10ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period, and the energy is massive (4445). Problem is, the wind is cross-shore, creating a cross-chop. It’s a powerful, heavy wave for experts only, and the conditions are marginal. The following days into the end of the month look mostly average to poor, with onshore winds dominating. There’s a hint of a cleaner window on Wednesday 30th July, with a light cross-off breeze and a 4ft SW swell, but it’s a long way out and the forecast is less certain.

Rusty out.

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