Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Rusty here, and let’s talk about the same stretch but in feet and miles per hour for the imperials. This whole outlook is just about Chinamans, a reef break that needs everything dialed in. Water temp is `15°` (about 60°F), pretty average for the time of year.

First off, the run starts clean but small. Sunday morning (July 26): clear, light cross-off wind from the west at about `6 mph`, and a `4 ft` SW groundswell with a 12-second period. The energy’s moderate (479), so it’s a decent, clean little wave.

Monday (July 27): offshore wind from the NNW but it’s strong—`22 mph`. Swell is `4 ft` with a longer 14-second period. Energy’s up to `876`. Clean and chunky, but you’ll need to work for it.

Then we hit the slop. Tuesday (July 28) and Wednesday (July 29) are total washouts for surfing—cross-shore and cross-onshore winds blowing `25–28 mph` with swell over `8 ft` and up to `10 ft`. The energy is massive (3241 to 4529), but it’s a wind-rippled, messy mess. This is kite territory, not paddle.

Thursday (July 30) calms down with `5 ft` swell and light cross-onshore wind. It’s marginal but possible.

Now for the good stuff. Friday (July 31) starts clean in the morning, but the Friday afternoon is a winner: offshore breeze from the north at `9 mph`, and a tiny but long-period `3 ft` SW groundswell at 20 seconds. Energy is `829`. That long period will make those small waves smooth and peel nicely.

Saturday (August 1): offshore `15 mph`, clear skies, `4 ft` SW groundswell at 17 seconds. Energy at `886`. A really solid day. Sunday (August 2) is a bit bigger (`6 ft`) but the wind turns cross-off—still clean, but not glassy.

The absolute best is Wednesday, August 5. No wind—glassy. Swell is `7 ft` from the SW with a very long 17-second period and energy of `4191`. That’s too big for beginners, but for experts it’s going to be a proper day of making the reef sing.

Friday, August 7 afternoon is another beauty: offshore `9 mph`, `7 ft` SW groundswell, 17-second period, energy of `3295`. Clean and powerful.

After that, it drops off—smaller surf and onshore gales kick in around August 9. The standout days are August 5 (glassy, 7 ft) and August 7 afternoon (offshore, 7 ft), with a nice runner-up on July 31 afternoon (small but perfect). The long-range ones are a bit less certain, but they’ve got all the marks of a proper session.

Rusty.

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