Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Chinamans is the only break on the radar for this stretch, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag with a serious standout waiting at the end of the month. This reef setup is exposed to the SW, and with a 15-second period groundswell, those waves are going to have some real punch and shape, but they’ll be rolling in on long, widely spaced sets. The water’s sitting at 60°F, which is pretty average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We start off on Thursday, 23 July, and it’s a bit of a rough start. Afternoon sees a 8.2ft SW swell, but with a cross-on wind from the SSW at 15 mph, it’s choppy and messy with a combined energy of 3026 – that’s a lot of power, but the wind is just ruining it. Friday, 24 July, is a little better in the morning: 7.5ft SW swell, a cross wind from the WSW at 9 mph, and a combined energy of 2418, but it’s only marginal. The afternoon stays on the poor side.

Saturday, 25 July, and Sunday, 26 July, are nothing to write home about. Swell drops from 5.9ft down to 4.9ft, cross winds from the WSW keep things choppy, and the energy fades from 1049 down to 714. Just a bit of a lull there.

Then Monday, 27 July, things start to turn. Morning has a 4.6ft SW swell with an offshore wind from the NNW at 15 mph and a combined energy of 810. The wind is offshore, and that’s a major positive – it’ll be clean. The afternoon gets even better with the same offshore wind and energy climbing to 985, and the report says “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s a nice little window, but the swell is still under 4.9ft, so it’s manageable for most.

Tuesday, 28 July, is a tricky one. The morning shows a 3.9ft SW swell with a cross-offshore wind from the W at 19 mph, a 17-second period, and a combined energy of 1797. That’s a long-period groundswell, so shape should be good, but the wind is a fresh breeze. By afternoon, the wind swings to the SSW at 19 mph, cross-onshore, and the swell jumps to 5.6ft, but it’s poor and lumpy.

Wednesday, 29 July, and Thursday, 30 July, slide back into mediocrity. The morning of the 30th has a 4.6ft SW swell with a light ENE breeze at 6 mph, but it’s cross-shore. The real treat is Thursday afternoon: a 4.3ft SW swell, a glassy wind from the NW at 3 mph, and a combined energy of 593. That’s small, but glassy conditions mean it’ll be silky smooth. Perfect for a longboard or a bit of fun on a reef.

Friday, 31 July, is a mixed bag. The morning has a tiny 2.6ft SW swell with a 20-second period – that’s a very long-period groundswell – and a cross-offshore wind from the WNW at 12 mph. The combined energy is 800, but it’s small. By afternoon, the swell jumps to 6.2ft with a 19-second period and a combined energy of 3380, but the wind is cross-onshore from the south at 12 mph, and it’s choppy and poor.

Now, the standout. Saturday, 1 August, is the one to circle on your calendar. Morning hits with a 9.8ft SW swell, a 16-second period, and a combined energy of 4498 – that’s serious power. The wind is a light offshore from the NNE at 6 mph, keeping it clean. The afternoon is even better, with the same 9.8ft swell, a glassy wind from the SSW at 3 mph, and a combined energy of 4881. Both sessions are rated as “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is a big swell, over 8.2ft

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