Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s on offer. We’re sitting on a decent run of south-west groundswell, but it’s not all smooth sailing. The water is sitting at 59° – that’s pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real chance to get wet comes Thursday the 6th, but honestly, it’s a bit of a struggle. Early morning is a write-off – cloudy, cross-on wind from the SSW at 12 mph, with 4ft of 16-second SW swell. The combined energy is weak (879), and it’s just messy. By Thursday afternoon, the wind drops to 6 mph, still cross-on, but the swell bumps up to 5ft (1380 energy). It’s marginal, but you might find a rippable one if you’re patient.

Friday the 7th shapes up a bit better. The morning has clean conditions with a cross-offshore breeze from the NNE at 15 mph, and 8ft of SW groundswell – that’s a solid 16-second period, packing 2475 energy. That’s a powerful wave, but at 8ft, it’s getting into expert territory. The afternoon sees the wind swing to the north at 18 mph, going fully offshore. Swell drops a touch to 7ft, period 17 seconds (2300 energy). Clean, lined-up waves, but again, that size and period mean it’s for the crew who know what they’re doing.

Saturday the 8th is a similar story. Morning has some clouds, 18 mph offshore north-northwest wind, 6ft swell (1613 energy). Clean, punchy, but that offshore is strong. Afternoon brings rain showers, still offshore, still 6ft (1446 energy). Solid options.

Now, Sunday the 9th is a write-off. Strong wind from the west-south-west at 28 mph, cranking up to 31 mph in the afternoon. The swell jumps to 8ft and then 12ft, but the combined energy is through the roof (3079 and 5187), and it’s all cross-shore, messy, and dangerous. Leave it.

But then… Monday the 10th. That’s the standout. The morning has 12ft of SW groundswell, 17-second period, and the combined energy is massive at 12718. The wind is 18 mph from the west-north-west, cross-offshore, and it’s clean. That’s big, powerful, and perfect for the advanced crew. The afternoon stays clean with a moderate offshore wind from the north-west at 12 mph, swell at 10ft (5271 energy). This is the best session on offer – a proper, heavy, groundswell pulse. After that, Tuesday the 11th is still worthwhile but tricky – strong offshore wind at 28 mph makes paddling hard, with 7ft swell.

The middle of the week, around the 12th and 13th, gets blown out again with near gale-force cross-shore winds. The swell is huge (13ft to 15ft), and it’s a washing machine. Not for surfing.

By the 16th of August, things settle. Sunday the 16th has a beautiful morning with a light cross-offshore breeze from the north-east at 3 mph, 6ft of SW groundswell (1491 energy). Then the afternoon goes glassy – zero wind, 6ft of 15-second swell (1220 energy). That’s a dream. Clean, smooth, and the swell is a nice size for experienced surfers.

The following week, from the 17th onward, looks like a long run of clean but smaller surf. Monday the 17th has 4ft to 4ft of SW groundswell, with offshore winds. Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th are similar – around 7ft to 6ft, clean, cross-offshore winds. Good, consistent, but nothing as epic as that Monday the 10th.

The very end of the run, Thursday the 21st of August, has a 7ft south-west swell with light onshore wind, but it’s marginal.

So, the standout is Monday the 10th of August. Get out there early for the biggest, cleanest swell. The glassy Sunday the 16th is also a stunner for a more relaxed session.

Rusty.

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