Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, listen up. I’m Rusty, and this is your local forecast. We’ve got a slow start, but there’s some serious energy coming down the line.

The first place to look is Chinaman’s, a reef break for the advanced crew. It breaks fairly often, so you’ll get your chances. The water is 59°, which is pretty normal for this time of year.

Kicking off on Monday, August 31st, we get a proper swell. That morning, a 7ft southwest groundswell rolls in with a 19-second period. The wind is a gentle cross-offshore from the northeast, so it’s clean. The wave energy is 3,646 (moderate-to-strong). The afternoon sees the swell bump to 7ft, from the same direction, with a clean cross-off from the north. This is your best early window. The setup is excellent for the experienced.

Tuesday, September 1st, the swell drops to 5ft with a 15-second period. The wind goes offshore from the NNW at 22 mph, keeping it clean. The energy drops to 1,135 (moderate). The afternoon is smaller, just 4ft, with a cross-off breeze. Still surfable, but not the highlight.

Wednesday, September 2nd and Thursday, September 3rd keep the southwest swell at 7ft to 8ft, with periods around 14 to 16 seconds. The wind is cross-off from the west or west-northwest, so the surface is clean. The energy is strong, from 2,326 to 4,119. Solid, consistent surf.

Then the size jumps. From Saturday, September 5th to Monday, September 7th, we’re looking at 12ft to 13ft waves. That’s big, heavy, and dangerous. The winds are a mess – strong cross-shore, near-gale cross-off, and strong cross-onshore. The wave energy goes through the roof, hitting 5,865 and even 8,098 (very strong). This is more for the kite surfers or the strong swimmers. The surf quality is poor.

The second week has some gems. Tuesday, September 8th and Wednesday, September 9th bring the swell back to 10ft to 13ft, but with better winds. Wednesday is a standout: a 10ft southwest swell with a gentle cross-off from the northwest. The wind is light, the surf is clean, and the energy is 3,981 (strong). Good for the experts.

Thursday, September 10th is the long-range hero. The swell is 7ft, but the period is a massive 22 seconds. That’s a very long period groundswell from the southwest. The wind is a fresh offshore from the north at 22 mph, and the energy is 5,483 (very strong). The reef will make this look perfect. Friday, September 11th is also solid, with an 12ft swell at 19 seconds, but with a slight cross-chop. The energy is 7,908 (very strong).

The forecast wraps up with Sunday, September 13th. The swell settles to 7ft in the morning, dropping to 6ft in the afternoon. The wind is dead calm – glassy from the NNE and NE. The energy is low (1,456 and 1,186), but for a clean, relaxed session without the crowds, it’s a beautiful way to finish.

The pick of the litter is Monday, August 31st for the first week, and Thursday, September 10th for the second. The second week is a bit less certain, but it looks promising.

Rusty

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