Cathedral Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next couple of weeks at Cathedral Rock. This is a point break, fairly consistent, and it’s got a good SSW exposure which is right in its wheelhouse.

Water temp is 57°F, which is pretty much average for this time of year – nothing wild happening there. You’ll want a decent wetsuit, standard for the area.

The first few days are a bit of a mixed bag. Tuesday the 18th has some clean conditions with a 5ft SW swell, but it’s a bit on the weak side energy-wise (1192). It’s surfable, but not exactly firing. Wednesday drops right off – small 3ft stuff and the energy just fades away (309). Thursday’s a little better with 5ft on offer (857), but it’s still nothing to write home about. So we’ve got a bit of a lull for the first few days.

Then things start to get interesting. Friday the 21st, the swell jumps up to 8ft in the morning and 10ft in the afternoon, with a solid 14-second period. The energy is really starting to build (2797 and 5053). Wind is light and cross-off, so it’s going to be clean. This is where it starts to get proper.

But the real standout is Saturday the 22nd. This is the one. We’ve got an 12ft to 13ft SW swell, with a long 15-16 second period. The energy is pumping – we’re talking 11101 and 13169, which is strong to very strong. The direction is perfect for the spot. There’s a bit of cross-shore wind, but it’s light. The only catch is the surf quality is listed as “marginal” which often means it’s big and a bit shifty. At 13ft, this is definitely for experienced surfers only – if you’re a beginner, stay well clear. This is a proper big-wave day. Crowds are a possibility on a day like this, so get out early.

Sunday the 23rd is still good, with 8ft of SW swell, but the energy drops back a notch (3299). The morning is cross-shore, but the afternoon goes glassy with a 16-second period – that’s going to be beautiful and clean. Another solid option.

After that, the week after it eases off. Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th have 5ft to 6ft clean waves, but nothing that special. There’s a bit of a drop in energy (around 800-1500). It’s still fun, but the main event has passed.

Late in the week, the wind turns onshore and messy – Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th get increasingly cross-chop and the quality drops. That big swell is gone, and it’s just not worth the paddle. By Saturday the 29th, there’s a 19 mph onshore wind and the conditions are flat-out poor.

Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st see the onshore winds ease but it’s still cross-onshore, and the energy stays moderate (1480 to 2148). It’s not great, but it’s not terrible either.

The real second-week gem is Tuesday the 1st of September. The wind goes glassy in the morning with a 6ft SW swell and a 16-second period. It’s clean, it’s punchy, and it’s the best of the second week. This is worth a look if you missed the weekend.

Wednesday the 2nd also has some decent 6ft SW swell with clean cross-off winds in the morning, so that’s a backup.

So, for the standout – it’s Saturday the 22nd. Big, powerful, and clean. The Friday before is good, and the Sunday after is still worth it. For the long-range, September 1st is the one to circle. Just remember, the further out you go, the less certain it gets. But it’s looking promising.

Anyway, that’s the rundown. Get on the Saturday if you're keen for a proper session. Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

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