Cape Schanck Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Cape Schanck. The forecast is a real mixed bag, with some proper size coming through but a whole lot of wind to go with it. We’ve got a window of clean surf at the start, then a big stretch of wild weather, before things might settle down again for a final chance.

The outlook kicks off this Friday morning, the 10th of July. We’ve got a solid SW groundswell rolling in at a bit over 5 feet, with a very long 15-second period. The energy is strong at 1100, and the water temp is sitting at 57°, which is about normal for this time of year. The wind is a light N breeze, 9 mph, coming cross-off the reef. It’s clean, but the score is just a 2, so it’s not a full standout. The afternoon on Friday looks better for the experienced crew – the swell drops slightly to 5 feet, the wind eases to 6 mph, still cross-off, and the score nudges up to a 3. It’s clean and the energy is still moderate (979). This is your best bet for the whole outlook, but don’t expect it to be firing on all cylinders.

Then things go pear-shaped. From Saturday, the 11th of July, right through to Tuesday, the 15th of July, the wind just howls. We’re talking near gale-force winds for days. The swell gets huge, hitting 11-12 feet late on Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th, with a very long 16-second period and massive combined energy readings of 5644 to 6573. But it’s all blown out. The reef is a mess. This is expert territory only, and honestly, with that much cross-shore and onshore wind, it’s more of a kite-surfing situation than a paddle-in one. Most of these days score a zero for surf quality.

The wind finally starts to back off a bit on Wednesday the 15th of July. The swell drops to 8 feet, with a 14-second period, and the energy is strong at 2382. But the wind is still a moderate cross-shore, making it choppy. It’s a marginal call, scoring a 1 or a 2.

Thursday the 16th of July is a bit better. The swell is 6 feet, still a long 14-second SW groundswell, and the energy is moderate (1238 to 1359). The wind is light, with a bit of a cross-on kick, but it’s clean enough. The score hits a 3 for the afternoon. Not a standout, but it’s surfable.

Now, here’s the interesting part. Friday the 17th of July. The morning is clean but marginal, but the afternoon is where it’s at. The swell holds at 6 feet, with a 15-second period, and the energy is strong at 1585. The wind is a light 6 mph from the north, cross-off, and the conditions are clean. The score is a 4, and it’s marked as “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is your second best window, and the best of the later part of the forecast. The long period will make for some proper waves on the reef, but the length of the swell might make it a bit too straight for a beach, so Cape Schanck’s reef structure should handle it well.

After that, it’s more poor conditions. The wind picks up again, and the swell drops right off. By the 20th of July, we’re down to 2 to 3 feet, with offshore winds but just not enough size. The final few days into the 24th and 25th of July show a bump back up to 5 feet, but the wind is all over the place, keeping the scores down.

So, to wrap it up: If you’re keen, your best shot is Friday the 10th of July for the cleanest, smaller surf, or Friday the 17th of July for a cleaner, bigger swell for experienced surfers. The rest of the 16 days is mostly a write-off from the wind and the size. It’s a tough run for the area.

Rusty.

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