Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming up at Chinamans over the next couple of weeks.

We’re looking at a solid run of groundswell from the SW, with some real gems hidden in the mix if you’re willing to pick your moments. The water temp is sitting at 60.3°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The week kicks off with a bit of a slow start. Tuesday the 7th is marginal, with a 4.3ft to 4.9ft SW swell, but the cross-shore wind from the ENE is putting a bit of a chop on the face. The combined energy is moderate (893–1063), but it’s not worth getting excited about just yet.

Wednesday the 8th sees the swell bump up to 7.9ft in the morning, period stretching to 18 seconds – that’s proper long-period groundswell. The energy jumps to 3483 (strong). But the wind is still cross-shore, which keeps it a bit messy. By the afternoon, the swell drops to 6.9ft, but the wind eases to a light breeze from the E, so it’s a touch cleaner.

Now, Thursday the 9th – that’s where it starts to get interesting. Morning brings a 4.9ft SW swell with a 15-second period, and the wind goes cross-offshore from the NE, just a slight air. The ocean turns clean. The combined energy is 1163 (moderate). By the afternoon, the wind swings to a pure offshore from the NNW, and the swell holds at 4.6ft. The energy bumps up to 1584. This is proper Chinamans conditions – clean, lined-up, and breaking beautifully over the reef. This is the standout of the first week.

Friday the 10th keeps the good times rolling. A moderate offshore breeze from the NNW, 12 mph, with a 5.2ft–5.6ft SW swell. The energy is strong (1123–1322) and the waves are clean all day. It’s a bit bigger, getting into that 5.6ft range, so it’s pushing into more experienced territory, but it’s still very manageable for a solid intermediate.

Saturday the 11th turns a bit wild. The wind cranks up to 19 mph from the WNW, swinging cross-offshore in the morning but then cross-shore in the afternoon. The swell is 6.6ft, but the period drops to 14 seconds, and it’s mixed with rain showers. The energy is strong (1841–1988), but the wind is making it lumpy. Not the best.

Sunday the 12th is a big one, but it’s a mixed bag. The swell builds to 9.8ft by the afternoon, with a 16-second period, and the energy is massive (3850). The wind is fresh from the W, cross-offshore, so it’s clean. But let’s be real – 9.8ft at Chinamans is a serious step up. That’s for experts only. The morning starts at 8.2ft, so still big.

Monday the 13th is the biggest of the run. The swell peaks at 11.5ft in the afternoon, with a 17-second period. The combined energy hits 6787 – that’s very strong. The wind is gentle from the SW, cross-shore, so it’s not as clean as it could be, but the power is there. Again, this is a big wave spot, and only experienced surfers should be looking at it.

Tuesday the 14th sees the swell back down to 7.9ft, but the wind is cross-offshore from the W in the morning, making it clean. The energy is still strong (3022). The afternoon gets a bit messy as the wind goes cross-shore.

The rest of the second week follows a similar pattern: solid SW groundswell, but the wind is a bit fickle. Wednesday the 15th is cross-on, Thursday the 16th is a beauty – morning is clean with a light cross-offshore breeze from the N, and the afternoon turns pure offshore from the N, 9 mph, with a 7.5ft, 17-second swell. The energy is 2878 (strong). That Thursday afternoon is another standout.

Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th are offshore, but the winds are strong (16–19 mph). The swell sizes vary from 3.3ft to 7.2ft. The 3.3ft morning on Saturday is a bit small, but the afternoon bumps up to 7.2ft with a very long 18-second period. The energy is 2810. It’s clean, but that strong offshore wind can make it a bit tricky.

Sunday the 19th is another big day – 8.2ft to

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