Cathedral Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here, and I've got a look at what's coming up for Cathedral Rock. We've got a solid window of surf ahead, but you've gotta pick your moments because this spot can get a bit wild when the wind and swell line up wrong.

The first action kicks off this Friday, the 17th of July. A big, long-period SW groundswell is pumping in at 8.2ft, with a 16-second period – that's proper groundswell energy, and the combined energy is a massive 3259 (moderate energy). This is expert territory, well over the 8ft mark. The morning sees a light NW breeze, keeping it clean, but the real standout is the Friday afternoon. It goes glassy, with a light SSW breeze, and the swell is still solid at 8.2ft from the SW. That's the pick of the weekend – clean, powerful, and a real challenge for the experienced crew. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Saturday the 18th is still very good. The swell drops a touch to 6.2ft on Saturday morning with a NW offshore wind, and the energy is down to 1299 (moderate). It's clean and should be a fun size for intermediates. Saturday afternoon goes glassy again with a 5.6ft SW swell, making it another clean session. Expect crowds here sometimes, as it's a well-known point.

Sunday the 19th gets smaller, with the swell dropping to 3.3ft and the period dropping to 13 seconds. The energy is 524 (weak). It's clean, but the size is dropping away. This is a good day for a longboard or a beginner session.

There's a solid stretch from Monday the 20th through Wednesday the 22nd. Swell sits around 3.9ft to 5.6ft, with periods of 12 to 16 seconds. The winds are mostly cross-off from the NW, so the waves will be clean. Really consistent, fairly exposed point, so it'll be handling the swell well. Crowds are a possibility.

Now, Thursday the 23rd gets a bit messy. The swell jumps up to 7.9ft in the morning, but the wind swings to the WSW at 25 mph, creating a cross-shore chop. Then the afternoon gets worse – 11.5ft of SW swell, but a fresh 30 mph cross-onshore wind makes it poor. Not worth it.

Friday the 24th of July has a standout afternoon session. The swell is a solid 11.5ft from the WSW, with a 14-second period. The combined energy is a massive 7481 (strong energy). The wind is a moderate cross-off from the WNW, keeping it clean. This is an exceptional day for the experts, but it's a week away, so keep an eye on the forecast.

The following week from the 25th to the 29th is a mixed bag with some big, powerful swells but often wind-affected. The 26th of July morning stands out with a glassy 6.6ft SW swell and energy of 1088 (moderate) – a clean window in a choppy week. The 30th of July morning is a standout: a 13.1ft SSW swell with a 16-second period, glassy conditions, and an energy reading of 8535 (strong). That's an exceptional, expert-only session.

The 31st of July looks excellent again, with a 9.8ft SW swell in the morning, a NW cross-off breeze, and clean conditions. The energy is 3967 (moderate). The first of August fades out with a smaller 5.2ft swell and light cross-shore wind.

Overall, the best of the best is the glassy Friday 17th afternoon and the exceptional, glassy 13.1ft swell on the 30th of July. Rip in.

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