Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a fairly consistent run of swell heading our way, with a solid SW groundswell pulse building through the period. The water temp is sitting at a pretty average 59°F, so nothing out of the ordinary for this time of year.

It kicks off on Tuesday afternoon, the 4th of August, at Chinamans. The wind is glassy, with a clean 5ft SW swell pushing in with a very long 15-second period. The energy is moderate (944), but that extra-long period means the waves will have serious shape and power – perfect for a reef break like this. It’s a standout session for the start of the week, with the light air and clean conditions making it a real treat.

Wednesday the 5th is where it gets interesting. The morning sees a bit of a drop in height to 3ft but the wind goes offshore from the NNW and the period jumps to a massive 19 seconds. The energy is still moderate (796), but that offshore wind and long period will be producing some beautifully lined-up waves. The afternoon gets even better – the swell jumps back up to 4ft with an 18-second period, the wind stays offshore, and the energy ramps up to 1140. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers, with very clean, powerful waves. This is the highlight of the early week.

Thursday the 6th is a bit of a letdown. The wind goes cross-onshore in the morning and the waves get choppy. The afternoon sees a bit more size at 5ft, but the wind is cross-shore, making it look less appealing. The energy is solid (1374) but the quality isn’t there.

Friday the 7th brings a bigger swell, hitting 8ft in the morning with a 16-second period. The wind is cross-offshore from the NNE, keeping things clean. The energy is getting strong (2634). This is getting into the expert-only zone, and the crowd is sometimes a factor here, but for those who can handle it, the waves will be powerful. The afternoon is similar with 7ft and clean conditions.

Saturday the 8th is a write-off. The wind is howling from the N at 25 mph, making it a messy, blown-out affair. The swell is still there, but the quality is gone. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session.

Sunday the 9th is a no-go. The wind is up to 31-37 mph from the W and WSW, with wave heights of 8ft to 12ft and a combined energy of 5713. The conditions are poor, with heavy rain and strong cross-shore winds. Stay on the beach.

Now, looking into the second week, things get very big. Monday the 10th sees an 12ft SW swell with a 16-second period. The wind is strong from the W and WNW, but it’s cross-offshore, keeping it clean. The energy is through the roof at 11707. This is only for the most experienced, and it’s a challenging, powerful wave. The best of the big stuff looks like it might be on Thursday the 13th, where the 12ft swell is accompanied by a clean cross-offshore wind and a 17-18 second period, with energy around 7284. That’s a proper groundswell event.

The tail end of the period, from the 17th of August, looks promising. Monday the 17th morning is a potential standout: the wind is glassy, the swell is 8ft with a 16-second period, and the energy is strong (3808). That’s a big, clean, powerful day for the experts.

The 18th and 19th see the swell dropping back to a more manageable 5ft to 7ft, with clean offshore winds from the N. This will be a fantastic end to the run, with great conditions for experienced surfers, especially on the 18th afternoon.

So, overall, the standout sessions are the opening Tuesday afternoon, the Wednesday afternoon, and the big, clean groundswell on the 13th. The glassy morning on the 17th is also a real gem. The weekend of the 8th and 9th is a write-off, so plan around that.

Rusty.

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