Cape Schanck Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's coming our way for the next couple of weeks. The standout spot is Cape Schanck, a solid reef break that's consistent and fairly exposed to the SW swells. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there. Don't expect much right now, but there are a couple of windows that'll get the heart pumping.

The first real chance to paddle out comes Sunday the 23rd. Sunday morning we've got a clean 8ft SW groundswell with a 14-second period and a moderate 2503 combined energy. Winds are cross-off from the NNW at 9 mph, so it'll be clean but a bit tricky with the tide. It's big and powerful, over 5ft, so this one's for experienced surfers only. Sunday afternoon drops a touch to 6ft but the wind goes light N at 3 mph, making for glassy conditions and a still hefty 1793 combined energy. That afternoon session is the pick of the weekend, clean and lined up.

Monday the 24th is a write-off with strong N winds at 18 mph and a messy cross-off breeze. The swell drops to 5ft with a weak 874 combined energy and marginal conditions. Tuesday the 25th morning is the next flicker of hope: a clean 6ft SW groundswell with 13-second period and 1005 combined energy. ENE winds at 9 mph keep it cross-off and clean. But Tuesday afternoon the wind swings onshore from the WSW at 12 mph, and the quality tanks.

Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th morning are dominated by onshore and cross-shore winds, making for poor surf despite some decent swell sizes (7ft on Wednesday afternoon). Thursday afternoon though, we get a surprise: a clean 4ft SW groundswell with 14-second period, light N winds at 9 mph, and 708 combined energy. It's not huge but it'll be super clean and a good option for a cruiser session.

Friday the 28th morning is flat and poor, but Friday afternoon sees a jump to 7ft with a very long 17-second period and a huge 2910 combined energy. However, winds are cross-onshore from the SSE at 9 mph, making it choppy and marginal. It's powerful but messy – one for the big wave crew with patience.

The following week is a mixed bag. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are largely onshore and poor, though Sunday morning has a clean cross-off 5ft with 13-second period and 1804 combined energy – worth a look if the wind holds. Sunday afternoon sees a massive 8ft, 16-second period swell with 4462 combined energy, but it's onshore and unknown quality.

Monday the 31st is your best bet in this second week: morning brings a clean 8ft SW groundswell with 15-second period and 2502 combined energy, with cross-off NW winds at 12 mph. It's a powerful groundswell, so the reef at Cape Schanck will handle it beautifully, but expect some crowd factor – it can get busy. The afternoon drops a touch to 7ft but with a light cross-on breeze. Tuesday the 1st of September gets blown out by strong NW winds, and Wednesday the 2nd morning sees a brief clean window with offshore NNE winds at 12 mph, 7ft swell, and 1316 combined energy – that's the sleeper pick for the week if you can sneak out.

After that, it's a wall of strong cross-shore and onshore winds through Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th, with massive 12ft SW swells but terrible conditions. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Saturday the 5th morning returns to clean cross-off conditions with a 7ft groundswell at 14 seconds and 1710 combined energy – a solid session if you're keen. But the following days drop off into poor wind and small, weak swell.

Overall, the standout is Sunday the 23rd afternoon and Monday the 31st morning. Both offer clean, powerful SW groundswell with solid energy and offshore or light winds. The 31st is a bit further out, so keep an eye on it, but it's promising. For the rest, there are a few clean windows but nothing that'll blow you away.

Rusty out.

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