Chameau Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s cooking. We’ve only got one spot in the running for the next 16 days: Chameau. It’s an exposed reef break that needs a good SW groundswell, and it’s a consistent performer for advanced crew. The water’s sitting at 77°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – not a crazy shift, but you’ll feel it’s a bit balmier than usual.

The first few days are a bit of a write-off. Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th are a frustrating mix of small, messy waves with cross or onshore winds, and the energy is weak (876 to 992). The tide or something else is making it marginal. You’d be wasting your time.

But then… Monday the 27th kicks off a proper run. That morning we get a glassy start with a solid 8ft SW swell hitting the reef, with a 16-second period. The combined energy is a massive 3602 – that’s serious power. It’s a bit thumping for beginners, but for the experienced surfer, this is the standout session of the whole outlook. The wind stays offshore or glassy through Monday and Tuesday, with the swell holding around 7ft to 8ft, and periods stretching from 14 to 18 seconds. Tuesday afternoon sees a 7ft SSW groundswell at 18 seconds, with offshore wind – that’s going to be absolutely clean and lined up. The energy stays strong (3008).

This whole stretch from Monday the 27th through to Friday the 1st of August is firing. The swell drops a touch but stays in the 5ft to 7ft range, with consistent offshore winds from the east or southeast. The crowd factor is “sometimes” here, so you might have a few others out, but it’s a reef so it spreads out. The water stays clean, and the energy is moderate to strong (979 to 1694). The 1st of August afternoon has a bit of rain, but the wind is still offshore, so it’s fine.

The second week, from the 2nd of August onward, the swell is a bit more up and down, but still plenty of surfable days. The 2nd and 3rd have 5ft to 6ft SSW swell with offshore winds, and the energy is still solid (1241 to 1469). The 5th of August Wednesday sees a nice 4ft SW groundswell with a long 18-second period, and the energy climbs back up to 1696. But from the 6th of August, the wind picks up – strong offshore breezes (22 to 28 mph) from the southeast. That’s clean, but it’s going to be a battle to get out and hold your line. The swell drops to 2ft to 4ft, and the energy fades. By the 9th of August, it’s still offshore but the whole setup is marginal for a paddle surfer.

If you’ve got a kite, those strong offshore days from the 6th to the 9th might be more your thing, but for a surfboard, the absolute best window is Monday the 27th through to Tuesday the 28th. That’s the true stand-out: big, powerful, clean, and long-period groundswell. Don’t sleep on it.

Rusty.

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