Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surf is finally looking like it’s getting its act together out at Chinamans. We’ve got a bit of a wait, and then a couple of proper windows to get stuck into.

It’s a slow start. The next few days are pretty average, with surf in the 4 to 6 feet range. There’s a touch of swell, but the wind is mostly cross-off or cross, so it'll be a bit lumpy and not really worth getting too excited about. The energy is moderate at best, with combined readings around 800 to 1500. It's more of a paddle-out-and-see-what-happens situation than a solid bet.

Then things get properly messy. Around Tuesday the 15th of September, a bigger pulse of SW swell rolls in, pushing waves up to 8 feet. But the wind swings onshore, and it’s just going to be a washing machine. The combined energy jumps to strong (3982) but with that wind, it's a write-off for the boards. This poor, choppy run hangs around through Wednesday the 16th. It’s not what we’re after.

We get a brief window on Thursday the 17th. The swell drops back to 4 to 5 feet, but the wind turns light and cross-off. That afternoon, with the wind barely a whisper from the north at 3 mph, conditions turn clean and glassy. It’s small, but for a quick, fun session on a longboard, it could be alright. The energy is still moderate (621).

Friday the 18th is a better shout. Morning surf has 4 feet of SW swell at a nice, long 17-second period, with a moderate offshore breeze. It’s clean and should have some push to it. The energy is moderate (648). Afternoon drops off a bit, but stays clean.

Now for the real standout. The middle of next week. Monday the 22nd sees a proper pulse of SW groundswell. By Tuesday the 23rd, we’re looking at 10 feet of swell, and while the period is a solid 16 seconds, the wind is dead light out of the ESE. It’s going to be big, powerful, and clean. The combined energy is very strong (5210). This is a major event. This is not for the faint of heart. At 10 feet, it's expert territory only, and it will be a proper mission. The long period will make it feel even bigger, and with a reef setup like Chinamans, this could be a session for the memory bank.

That window is followed by another clean one on Wednesday the 23rd. Surf eases to 7 feet in the morning with a moderate offshore breeze from the north. It's still solid, with excellent conditions for experienced surfers. The energy remains strong (1624).

After that, the wind gets messy again, and we fade back out. There’s one last look on Saturday the 26th, with 7 feet of clean but average surf on the morning, before it’s all over.

So, if you’re picking your moments, the absolute standout is the big swell on Tuesday the 22nd of September. It’s going to be big, it’s going to be clean, and its energy reading of 5210 is off the charts. That’s the one to plan around. Wednesday the 23rd is your slightly smaller, but still excellent, backup.

First, the wait. We’ve got a real dry spell from now until the 17th. Nothing worth paddling out for, with the swell staying small and the wind messing things up. The 17th is the first chance at something clean, but it’s small. Then the 18th is better, but still not the main event.

The long-period swells are well suited for a point or reef break like Chinamans, so the shape should be good, but the power is the main factor. It’s a heavy slab, and it’s not messing around. That Tuesday morning surf is 10 feet of pure southwest groundswell, and with glassy conditions, it’s going to be a sight to see. The water temp is 59°, which is about normal for this time of year.

Rusty

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