Cathedral Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a solid run of surf on the horizon. Cathedral Rock is the only spot in the game, and it’s looking like a ripper. The water’s sitting at 57°F, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The action starts Monday morning the 31st of August. We’re looking at a beautiful 8ft SW groundswell rolling in with a 14-second period and glassy conditions. The combined energy is pumping at 2718, which is moderate to strong, and it’s clean as a whistle. This is prime for intermediate to experienced surfers. It gets a bit messy in the arvo with a light cross-onshore, so hit it early.

Tuesday morning the 1st of September sees a 7ft SW swell, but a stiff 16 mph cross-offshore wind will keep the surface clean. The period stretches to 15 seconds, giving it some real grunt (2102 energy). It’s a good option, but the morning is the pick.

Wednesday the 2nd is a standout. Glassy morning? No, it’s a clean 8ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period and gentle cross-offshore winds. The energy is strong at 2875. This is Cathedral Rock doing what it does best. The afternoon stays clean but the swell bumps up to 8ft.

Thursday the 3rd gets serious. A big 15ft SW swell hits, but a 19 mph cross-wind makes it lumpy. The energy is huge at 6306. This is a beast for experienced surfers only, and the chop will test your fitness. It’s more of a battle than a pleasure cruise.

Friday the 4th is a redemption arc. The swell drops to a still-juicy 12ft from the SW with a 15-second period, but the wind swings offshore at 16 mph. The energy is 4721, and the conditions are clean. This is an excellent session for the confident crew.

Saturday the 5th is a monster. We’re looking at 20ft to 21ft SW swell. The energy readings are off the charts at 19281 and 31420. This is pure, raw power. The wind is cross-shore and strong, making it messy and dangerous. For paddle surfing, this is a “do not enter” sign. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Only the absolute elite with a death wish should even think about it.

Sunday the 6th is the real gold. The swell settles to a manageable 12ft, but the wind is pure offshore from the North at 9 mph. The period is a dreamy 16 seconds, and the energy is strong at 6315. This is clean, powerful, and glorious. This is the best session of the entire forecast.

Monday the 7th of September is a nice little glassy morning session with 6ft SW swell, but it’s weaker (994 energy) and the afternoon turns onshore. A good rest day.

From Tuesday the 8th, the wheels come off. We get a 12ft SW swell with a 17-second period, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, making it choppy and poor. The 8th afternoon sees a massive 18ft swell (29499 energy) but it’s onshore and too big for the break. This pattern of onshore wind and big, messy swell continues through the 9th, 10th, and 11th of September. The conditions are poor for surfing.

There’s a glimmer of hope on Sunday the 13th of September. A 7ft ESE windswell with a short 8-second period shows up, but it’s offshore and glassy. The energy is weak at 980. It’s a clean, small option for the loggers.

The 14th and 15th of September are small and weak, with 4ft SW groundswell and glassy to light offshore winds. The energy is low (600-800 range). It’s clean, but not worth getting excited about.

Bottom line: The absolute standout is Sunday the 6th of September. The 12ft SW groundswell, 16-second period, and clean offshore wind will be perfection. Friday the 4th is a close second. The big stuff on the 5th is for kamikazes only. After the 7th, it’s a long, flat, and windy slog until the 13th, which offers a small, clean window.

Rusty.

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