Cape Schanck Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey, Rusty here again, and we’re talking about Cape Schanck over the next couple of weeks. This is a reef break for advanced surfers only—it’s exposed to the swell and can get nasty quick. Water temp is about 57°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year.

The start of the forecast is a bit of a wait. Thursday the 13th has a solid 10ft south-west swell with a long 16-second period and strong wave energy (4590), but the wind is cross-on from the west at 6 mph, so it’s messy and marginal. Friday the 14th is even worse—stronger cross-onshore winds and chop. Not worth it.

Saturday the 15th morning is the highlight. That 8ft south-west swell (15-second period) is still hefty, but the wind goes glassy—calm, 0 mph from the east. For a reef break, that’s a huge win. The wave energy is 2655 (moderate to strong), and for experienced surfers, this is the best on offer. The swell is over 5ft, so it’s too big for beginners, but Saturday morning is the standout. Crowds are possible here when it’s clean.

Sunday the 16th through Tuesday the 18th sees the swell drop from 6ft down to 4ft, with clean conditions and light offshore or cross-off winds. The period stays long (14 seconds), so the waves have shape, but the energy drops off (from 1301 to 672). These are solid, surfable days, but nothing epic.

From Wednesday the 19th through Thursday the 20th, the swell goes flat—under 3ft—with poor conditions. There’s a gap of several days with no recommendations here.

Friday the 21st shows a small pulse (4ft, 12-second period, energy 668), but the wind is messy, so it’s only marginal. Saturday the 22nd gets hammered by strong cross-onshore winds at 28 mph with 3ft to 5ft chop—more for kite surfing than paddling.

Sunday the 23rd throws up a massive 12ft south-west swell with 16-second period and strong wave energy at 6820, but the wind is howling cross-onshore at 28 mph. Dangerous conditions for a reef break. Not recommended.

The last week has more big swell (8ft to 10ft) but with strong winds and messy conditions. There’s a brief window on Tuesday the 25th afternoon where the wind eases to a cross-off with 10ft south-west swell (16-second period, energy at 4093), and it’s labeled marginal but clean. That’s a long-range call, so promising but less certain.

Bottom line: if you’re advanced, Saturday morning the 15th is the standout—glassy, solid groundswell, proper reef waves. The rest is either too windy, too messy, or flat. Keep an eye on Tuesday the 25th, but don’t count on it.

Rusty.

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