Castles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright crew, Rusty here again, but this time in feet and miles. We’ve got a solid run of surf coming down the pipe, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag with the wind. The main player is Castles, a reef setup that’s exposed to the swell but needs that clean window to shine.

The first real chance to get wet kicks off Sunday afternoon, the 30th of August. The water is sitting at 60°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there. A clean 4ft swell from the SW with a very long 19-second period and a gentle offshore breeze from the East. That’s a proper groundswell – the energy is right up there (1016), and the conditions will be clean and lined up. This is a standout moment for the experienced crew; the long period might make it a bit tricky at the reef, but it’ll be worth the paddle.

Monday the 31st hangs in there with 5ft SW swell, but the wind swings around to a cross-off and picks up, so it’s not as pristine. The energy is still strong (1642), but it’s a step down from Sunday.

The middle of the week gets messy. Tuesday through to Thursday morning are a write-off with onshore winds and poor conditions. The swell is there, but the wind is ruining the party. Thursday afternoon the 3rd of September shows a glimmer of hope with a 5ft SW swell and light cross-shore wind, but the energy drops (979) and the quality is marginal.

Now, the real action starts to build again. Friday the 4th of September has a 6ft SW swell but the wind is howling at 25 mph from the North, keeping it clean but messy. By the afternoon that swell jumps to 7ft, but the wind goes full onshore from the West, and it’s a total washout.

We hit a rough patch from Friday afternoon all the way through to Monday the 7th. The swell is pumping, pushing 7ft to 7ft, but the wind is either onshore or cross-on with gale-force gusts. The energy figures are massive for the 7th (3252), but it’s blown out and dangerous. This stretch is more for kite surfers than paddle surfers.

Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th of September see a big, powerful SW groundswell roll in, with heights climbing to 8ft by Wednesday afternoon. The energy is through the roof (5951). The wind is cross-shore, which is a compromise, but the size is expert territory. This is a standout for the bold and the experienced, but it’s not for the faint of heart.

Thursday the 10th of September is a proper highlight. 7ft of SW swell, clean and glassy with a light offshore breeze from the NE. The energy is strong (2188), and the wave comment says it all – excellent conditions for experienced surfers. This is a day to clear the calendar for.

The final weekend, the 13th of September, brings another big pulse. 8ft SW swell on Sunday morning with a North-Northeast cross-off breeze. The energy is absolutely cranking (5785), and it’s clean. This is another standout session for the experts, with a raw, powerful swell.

The 14th of September tries to keep the party going with 8ft swell, but the wind gets messy again, so it’s a goodbye wave for the period.

Overall, the best of the best are Sunday afternoon the 30th of August for that clean, long-period grace, and Thursday the 10th of September for the punchy, offshore perfection. The 13th of September is also a monster for the brave.

Rusty, signing off.

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