Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks are all about one spot: Chinamans. This is a reef break for advanced surfers only, and it's pretty consistent, so there’s plenty to talk about. The water is sitting at 60°, which is a touch warmer than average for this time of year, but nothing too wild.

Right now, Wednesday afternoon ain't the move. We've got a solid 8 ft SW swell, but that cross-on 12 mph wind is making a mess of things. The combined energy is high (3051), but it's just ugly. Skip it.

Thursday morning is still a bit wobbly with a 6 ft SW swell and light cross-on breeze, but look at Thursday afternoon. The wind goes glassy, the swell drops to a clean 5 ft from the SW at 13 seconds, and the energy settles to 832. That’s where it starts to get good. That’s a solid session.

Friday is clean all day. Morning and afternoon both have a 4 ft SW swell with a light cross-off breeze from the NNE. Energy is moderate (536-704), and it’s just easy, fun little waves. Perfect for a longboard or a fish.

Now, Saturday is a standout. The morning is clean with offshore wind from the North at 16 mph, and a 5 ft SW swell with a very long 18-second period. That’s proper groundswell, and for a reef like Chinamans, that’s a dream. The energy is already strong (1615). But the afternoon? That’s the pick of the week. The swell bumps to 7 ft, still from the SW, period at 17 seconds, and the wind stays offshore. The energy jumps to 2324, and the report says excellent conditions for experienced surfers. This is one of those days where you clear your calendar. The crowd factor is "sometimes," so you might have a few friends out, but it’s worth it.

Sunday is a bit of a mixed bag. The morning has strong offshore wind (25 mph), but that’s hard to paddle into. The 6 ft SW swell is there, but the wind is a beast. The afternoon is cleaner but the wind swings cross-off from the West. It’s surfable, but not the best of the run.

Monday and Tuesday of the next week see a dip. Monday is cross-on and choppy. Tuesday morning cleans up nicely with a 5 ft SW swell and light cross-off wind, but Tuesday afternoon is the real gem: 4 ft SW swell, light offshore wind, and a 15-second period. The energy is moderate (1027), but it’ll be lined up and clean.

The first week of August is where it gets serious. Wednesday the 5th through Thursday the 6th are pure gold. Consistent 6 ft to 6 ft SW swell, long periods (16-18 seconds), and gentle offshore winds. The energy is through the roof (1634 to 2351). This is classic Chinamans. The water is still mild, winds are clean, and the wave quality is excellent. If you’re an advanced surfer, this is your window.

Friday the 7th gets a bit windy again with a strong cross-off breeze, but Saturday the 8th morning is another clean window with a 6 ft SW swell. The afternoon turns to mush with cross-on wind.

Sunday the 9th is a letdown, but then we get into the second week and a massive pulse arrives. Monday the 10th has a 12 ft WSW swell, but it’s cross-on and choppy. The energy is massive (5553), but the wind is a killer. Still, for a big-wave charger, the afternoon might be worth a look with light wind.

Tuesday the 11th is the big one. The swell is 12 ft from the SW in the morning, but the afternoon is predicted to be 16 ft from the SW with a 16-second period. The combined energy is 18809, which is insane. The report warns that the swell may be too big for this break. This is only for the most experienced, and even then, it might be a close-out. The wind is cross-off, so it’ll be clean, but that’s a monster.

Wednesday the 12th is still huge but with a strong breeze, and Thursday the 13th we see the drop. Thursday morning is a 6 ft SW swell with a light offshore wind, and Thursday afternoon is glassy with a 7 ft SW swell at a 17-second period. That’s a beautiful way to end the outlook.

If you’re a beginner, look away. Most of this swell is over 5 ft, and those 16 ft days are for experts only. But for the experienced crew, there are some true standouts: Saturday afternoon July 1st, and the entire stretch from August 5th to 6th.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

Read more