Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, crew, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the pipe for this spot.

We’ve got one break on the cards, and it’s a proper reef setup that doesn’t fire for just anyone. Chinamans is your spot for this outlook, and the water’s sitting at a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, about 60°, which is a little bit of a treat.

Right off the bat, Wednesday the 2nd afternoon sees a clean 2.3m (8ft) SW groundswell with a solid 15-second period, but that 30 km/h (19 mph) cross-off wind from the west is pushing hard. It’s not terrible, but it’s a fresh breeze, so it’s a marginal call. The combined energy is moderate at 2169, but look—it’s a toss-up with the wind. Thursday the 3rd is a write-off with rain and choppy cross-onshore winds, so don’t bother. Friday the 4th shows a glimmer of hope with a clean morning, a 3.0m (10ft) SW groundswell with a 16-second period (that’s a long period, proper groundswell), and cross-off winds from the NNE at 20 km/h (12 mph). The energy is strong at 4272, but it’s still called marginal. It’s a big, powerful swell—only for experienced surfers.

The standout window is the weekend of the 6th and 7th. Saturday the 6th afternoon into Sunday the 7th morning is where it gets intimate. Sunday morning the 7th has light 10 km/h (6 mph) cross-off winds from the NE, a clean 2.3m (8ft) SW swell at 14 seconds, and the energy is moderate at 2123. But the real gem is Sunday afternoon the 7th: glassy, a 1.9m (6ft) SW groundswell with a 14-second period, and barely a breath of wind at 5 km/h (3 mph) from the SE. The water’s glassy, and the energy is a moderate 1463. That’s the best on offer—clean, powerful, but still manageable for the skilled surfer. Crowds are possible at Chinamans, but on a glassy afternoon like that, it’s worth the company.

Then there’s a big gap of messy, poor surf from Monday the 8th through to the middle of the second week, with strong cross-onshore winds and choppy conditions. The swell stays moderate to big, but the wind ruins it. Keep an eye on Monday the 14th morning: it’s a glassy 3.0m (10ft) SW groundswell with a 17-second period, and the energy is very strong at 5304. That’s a huge, long-period groundswell—only for experts, and only if the winds hold. It’s a long way out, so call it promising but not locked in. Tuesday the 15th morning is another glassy calm with a 2.0m (7ft) SW swell at 15 seconds, and the energy is moderate at 1729—a nice, clean, smaller option.

Overall, the best is Sunday the 7th afternoon for clean, glassy conditions with solid swell. The Monday the 14th morning is the big wave potential if you’re an expert. The rest of the window is either too windy or too messy, so pick your days. This reef rewards patience.

Rusty.

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