Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's look at what we've got on offer for the next couple of weeks at Chinamans.

We’re looking at a long stretch of solid, consistent SW groundswell hitting this exposed reef break, and the key is going to be picking the windows when the wind plays nice. The water’s sitting at 59°F, which is pretty standard for this time of year, nothing weird going on there.

The first few days, from Friday the 21st through Saturday the 22nd, are a write-off. We’ve got a solid 7ft to 8ft SW swell with heaps of energy (2553 to 2913), but the wind is all over the place – cross and cross-off with some chop. The conditions are just marginal, so you’re better off waiting.

Sunday the 23rd is where it starts to get interesting. The morning session is looking good with a clean 7ft SW swell (2758) and a light NNE cross-off breeze. It’s for the experienced crew at that size, but the shape should be there. Then Sunday afternoon is the real standout of the whole run: glassy conditions, a 3 mph offshore from the north, and a clean 6ft SW swell (1787). That’s the kind of session you live for.

Monday the 24th morning still has some clean, smaller waves at 4ft (619) with a light cross-off, but it's a big step down. Monday afternoon gets ruined by a strong east wind.

Tuesday the 25th is a total mess with onshore gales and lumpy 8ft swell. Wednesday the 26th morning is a gem, though – glassy conditions, a 5ft SW swell (1016), perfect for a more relaxed session. Post-lunch on Wednesday is also clean with a gentle offshore.

Thursday the 27th morning has a moderate offshore with 4ft swell, but the standout is Thursday afternoon: a long-period 6ft SW swell from 19 seconds (3109) with clean cross-off winds. That long period means the reef will really line up, but sets will be far apart.

Friday the 28th morning is another beauty: a light offshore, 7ft SW swell (2344), and clean. Top notch.

We then hit a flat spell. From Saturday the 29th right through to Sunday the 30th, it’s small, onshore junk. That’s a couple of days you can sleep in.

Monday the 31st morning wakes things back up with a very long-period 5ft SW swell at 20 seconds (2570) and a light cross-off. That’s a clean, lined-up reef wave. Monday afternoon jumps back up to 7ft (3588), but it’s a bit cross.

Into the first week of September, Tuesday the 1st is near-perfect: clean, light offshore winds, 7ft swell (2003) in the morning, and 6ft (1632) in the afternoon. Wednesday the 2nd stays clean with a moderate offshore breeze, holding 5ft to 6ft.

The long-range stuff around Thursday the 5th and Friday the 6th shows some big, powerful swell (up to 10ft and 5467 energy), but the wind gets strong again, so it’s not for the faint-hearted. On the whole, the absolute pick of the entire forecast is that Sunday afternoon, August 23rd, and the Tuesday morning, September 1st is another standout. Chinamans is a reef, so it’s an advanced wave, and the crowds can be around sometimes, but when the wind is offshore and the SW groundswell is pumping, it’s worth fighting for a spot.

Rusty.

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