Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is the outlook for the next couple of weeks.

We’re looking at a solid run of swell for Chinamans, a deep-water reef break that really needs the right conditions to shine. The water’s sitting at 60°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first few days are a bit of a write-off. Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th have some decent size – 7ft to 5ft – but the wind is all over the place, mostly cross-shore, and the wave quality is just marginal. You’re looking at a lumpy, choppy mess. Not worth suiting up for.

Sunday the 26th is where we start to see a glimmer. The swell drops to 4ft but the wind swings light and favourable, with a clean look on the cards. By Sunday afternoon, we’ve got a gentle offshore from the NW, which is perfect for this spot. The wave energy is moderate (461), but the quality is there.

Monday the 27th is a bit of a strange one. The morning has a strong offshore breeze at 45 km/h (28 mph), which will keep the surface clean, but it’s going to be a real battle to paddle out. The swell is 4ft but with a short period of 8 seconds, so the waves won’t have much grunt. The afternoon gets bigger, up to 8ft, but the wind is strong and cross-off, making it a bit of a handful.

Tuesday the 28th is a step up in size, with 8ft to 7ft of swell, but the wind is a fresh cross-shore, creating a lumpy cross-chop. The wave energy is very strong (4996), but it’s not the most user-friendly. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle session.

Wednesday the 29th is still on the big side, with 8ft to 8ft, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, which is a no-go for clean waves.

Now, Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st are where it gets interesting. The swell drops to 5ft to 4ft, but the wind turns light and offshore or glassy. Friday afternoon is the real standout here: glassy conditions, 4ft of swell, and a very long 19-second period. That’s a proper groundswell, and it’s going to wrap beautifully into the reef. The wave energy is strong (1635), and the quality is excellent for experienced surfers. This is the best window of the first week.

Saturday the 1st of August keeps the good run going, with a gentle offshore and 5ft of swell from the SW. The wave energy is moderate (1141), but the wind is clean, making for long, peeling waves.

Sunday the 2nd of August brings a bigger pulse, with 8ft of swell and a 17-second period. The wind is a moderate cross-off, so the surface will be clean, but the size is getting up there. This is for the more experienced crew.

The middle of the week, from the 3rd to the 5th of August, is a bit mixed. There’s some wind and size, but nothing that really stands out. The 5th does have a nice afternoon session with 6ft and a clean cross-off wind, but it’s not the best of the bunch.

Now, the real highlight of the entire forecast is the 6th of August. Thursday morning has 7ft of swell with an incredible 22-second period, and a moderate offshore wind. The wave energy is massive (7119). By the afternoon, it’s 12ft with a 21-second period, a fresh offshore wind, and wave energy through the roof (10859). This is a serious swell for experts only. The reef will be absolutely pumping, but it’s going to be a big, powerful, and dangerous session. This is the best on offer, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on the forecasts.

The 7th and 8th of August see the swell holding at 12ft to 10ft, but the wind gets too strong, with near-gale conditions on the 7th. It’s not worth it. The 8th is a bit more manageable, but still fresh.

All up, the standout windows are the glassy Friday the 31st of July, and the massive, expert-only session on the 6th of August. Everything else is either a bit too windy, too lumpy, or too big for the average surfer.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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