Chinamans Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.29° S 136.87° E

Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 8 am 07 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Chinamans sea temperature is
15.0° C
0.2° 

Chinamans surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Chinamans surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 19s period, SW swell with 10,539 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 10 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Chinamans this week:

The surf forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Chinamans in the next 16 days are 4.0m 19s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (ACST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Mon 10th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 16s
Best Surf 3AM (Thu 13th Aug)15ft (4.5m) 15s
Most Powerful12PM (Wed 12th Aug)13ft (4.0m) 19s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chinamans over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Chinamans. This is a reef setup, and it’s a spot for the advanced crew. We’ve got a solid window of swell coming, but she’s gonna be a bit of a wild ride.

The water’s sitting at 59° right now, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year – nothing unusual there.

We kick off on Friday, the 7th of August. The swell is already pumping with a solid 8ft from the SW, and that period is a very long 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell with heaps of energy (2475). But the wind is a cross-off from the N at 16 mph, keeping it clean. The catch is the forecast is a bit marginal, so it’s not the best of the window. The swell actually backs off a touch into Saturday the 8th, dropping to 6ft, but the wind turns offshore on Saturday afternoon – that’s the good stuff. Clean faces with that 6ft SW swell.

Sunday the 9th is a real mixed bag. Morning looks solid – 8ft WSW swell, offshore wind, and the energy is jumping up to 3181. That’s a proper standout session. But hold on, because Sunday afternoon turns nasty. The wind shifts to a 44 mph gale from the west, making it messy and dangerous. By Monday the 10th, the swell is huge – 12ft to 12ft SW/WSW – but the wind is all over the place. The combined energy is massive (over 10,000 on Monday afternoon), but with that much power and a cross-off wind, it’s a real handful. Definitely for the experts only.

The middle of the week, Tuesday the 11th through to Thursday the 13th, sees the swell hanging around 6ft to 12ft, but the wind is either strong offshore or cross-shore. The quality is all over the shop. Not the cleanest, but there’ll be waves.

Now, here’s the real standout. Look at Saturday the 15th of August. We’ve got an 8ft SW swell, 16-second period, and the wind is *glassy* – calm as, from the SE at 3 mph. The combined energy is a solid 3756, and the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. Glassy, clean, and a solid swell. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.

The following week keeps the swell running. Sunday the 16th drops to 5ft, but it’s clean. Then Monday the 17th has a beautiful little 5ft SW swell with offshore winds and excellent conditions. Another gem. The energy picks up again on Tuesday the 18th with 8ft SW swell and 17-second period, but it’s a bit cross-on.

Then, look at Friday the 21st of August. Another glassy morning with 8ft SW swell, 16-second period, and a combined energy of 3090. That’s another clean, excellent session. The swell fades a bit into the 22nd, but it’s still clean with offshore winds.

Overall, the best of the bunch is that Saturday the 15th – glassy, 8ft, and a long period SW groundswell. That’s a proper session. The Monday the 17th and Friday the 21st are also absolute crackers. The rest of the time, it’s either too big, too windy, or just average. For a reef break like this, the long period swells will be threading through nicely.

Stay salty,
Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Sun afternoon). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the N on Fri morning, gales from the W by Sun afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Tue afternoon). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the NNW on Mon afternoon, near gales from the W by Wed morning).

Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
2
3
3
4
0
0
4
8
3
1
2
0
0
0
4
6
8
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.3
SW
16
2
SW
17
1.8
SW
16
1.8
SW
16
1.8
SW
15
1.7
SW
14
2.3
WSW
16
4
SW
11
4
SW
12
3.5
SW
17
3.5
WSW
16
2.2
SW
16
1.9
SW
14
2.2
W
14
3.5
SW
17
3.5
WSW
19
4
SW
16
3.5
SW
16
3.5
SW
16
3.5
SW
15
2.5
SW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2475
2300
1761
1613
1432
1155
2545
3329
4261
6909
5730
2266
1500
1887
7367
9735
7731
6702
5649
5771
2708
Wind (km/h)
25
N
30
NNE
30
N
30
N
30
N
35
N
30
N
70
W
50
SW
30
WSW
25
WNW
35
NNW
45
N
40
NNW
45
WSW
55
W
50
WSW
30
SW
25
WSW
20
W
25
W
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
off
off
off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
8:33AM0.83m
11:06AM0.88m
12:25PM0.97m
2:55AM0.27m
1:14PM1.05m
2:11AM0.35m
1:53PM1.08m
2:26AM0.46m
2:27PM1.08m
2:49AM0.57m
Low Tide
11:08PM0.10m
11:05PM0.12m
10:18PM0.14m
9:24PM0.14m
4:16AM0.27m
9:11PM0.13m
6:22AM0.21m
9:14PM0.12m
7:25AM0.15m
9:24PM0.11m
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
light rain
mod rain
light rain
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
thunderstorm
mod rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:11
7:11
7:09
7:09
7:07
7:07
7:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:44
5:45
5:45
5:45
5:46
5:47
5:47
 mm
1
3
3
7
2
4
6
2
1
Temp °C
15
15
15
14
16
14
13
13
12
13
13
14
15
16
12
13
13
13
13
14
14
Feels °C
8
9
9
8
11
8
7
2
0
7
7
8
5
8
2
2
3
7
7
9
9
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Chinamans Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Chinamans provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Chinamans can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Chinamans surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Chinamans) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Chinamans may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Are you planning a holiday in Yorke Peninsula? If you are looking for accommodation near Chinamans, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Yorke Peninsula, consider staying in Kingscote which is 80 km (50 miles) away.

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