Cathedral Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards. We’ve got Cathedral Rock, a point break that’s fairly consistent and fairly exposed to the swell. It likes the swell from the SSW. The water’s sitting at 57°F, which is just about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.

The real story starts this Saturday morning, the 29th of August. It’s a cracker of a morning – clear skies, glassy as a mirror with a light WNW breeze at 3 mph. We’ve got a solid 6 ft SW groundswell with a 14-second period, which is a proper long-period groundswell, and the combined energy is pumping at 1500 (moderate energy). It’s a bit heavy for beginners – over 5 ft – but for an intermediate surfer, this is a treat. The offshore wind keeps it clean, and the break’s a point, so that long period will wrap in nicely. The crowds are sometimes there, so you might have to share, but it’s worth it. This is a standout.

Sunday morning, the 30th, is even bigger – 8 ft from the SW, 13-second period, glassy again with a light SW breeze. The energy’s up to 1973 (moderate to strong). This is getting into the territory where it’s for experienced surfers only. Still, the conditions are excellent.

Monday the 31st is the pick of the early week. The wind is dead calm – 0 mph, glassy – and the swell is 8 ft from the SW, 14-second period. The energy is now 2718 (strong). It’s big, clean, and for the experienced crew only. This is the best of the first few days, no question.

Tuesday the 1st of September sees a change. The swell drops a touch, but the wind swings to a cross-offshore NNW at 12 mph. The morning is 7 ft SW, 15-second period, which is a very long period groundswell. The energy is strong at 2237. It’s clean, but that long period on a point break is fine, so it’s still a solid session. The afternoon gets windier and less appealing.

Now, hold onto your board. Thursday the 3rd of September is an absolute monster. Morning sees a 15 ft WSW swell, 14-second period, and the combined energy is a staggering 11093 (very strong). The wind is a clean cross-offshore NW at 9 mph. This is for experts only – over 8 ft, it’s too big for anyone else. The afternoon drops to 12 ft, still massive. This is a true standout, but you need to know what you’re doing.

Friday the 4th is still big, 10 ft SW, with a 15-second period, but the wind is a stronger cross-offshore NNW at 12 mph. The energy is still strong (3919), but the wind is picking up, making it less perfect.

Saturday the 5th of September is a bit of a mess. The morning has a 13 ft SW swell with a 16-second period – very long period – and the energy is enormous at 15671 (very strong). But the wind is a cross-shore WSW at 16 mph, creating a cross-chop. The afternoon gets worse with a cross-onshore wind. This is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, to be honest.

The second week has some wild swings. Sunday the 6th sees a clean cross-offshore morning with 8 ft SW, but the afternoon kicks up with a proper offshore N wind at 12 mph and a 13 ft SW swell. That afternoon is a sleeper hit for the experienced.

Monday the 7th of September is another big day – 16 ft SW, 15-16 second period, but the wind is a fresh cross-shore at 16-19 mph. The energy is 10434 and then 20857 – absolutely massive. It’s predicted to be too big for this break, so unless you’re a true charger, give it a miss.

The rest of the week sees the swell slowly drop, but there are still clean windows. Thursday the 10th of September morning is a massive 16 ft WSW, 16-second period, with clean cross-offshore NW wind. Again, too big for most, but the afternoon at 15 ft is a bit more manageable for experts.

The final weekend, Saturday the 12th, has a nice clean 7 ft and 8 ft SW swell with cross-offshore winds. For the second week, this is a solid bet. The period is 12-16 seconds, so it’s still a proper groundswell.

Overall, the standout is this Saturday morning, the 29th of August, with that glassy 6 ft, and then Monday the 31st with the dead calm and 8 ft. For the brave, Thursday the 3rd of September is a world-class, massive swell day for experts. The second week is more variable, but the 12th of September looks clean and fun.

Rusty.

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