Chinamans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your board, let’s get into it. This is Rusty.

Looks like the swell is coming, but there’s no rush. The first few days are looking pretty average, with a mix of lumpy cross-shore breezes and small window opportunities. We’ve got a solid run of south-west groundswell building through the period, and for a reef break like Chinamans, that’s a sweet setup. The water temp is not doing anything weird, just normal for this time of year, which is fine by me.

The first real surf on offer kicks off around Saturday, July 4th, but honestly, it’s nothing special. A 6 ft south-west groundswell with a long 14-second period is pushing in, but it’s being ruined by a cross-onshore breeze. The combined energy is moderate (1403), but the face is messy and the tide is a concern. Score isn’t high. That afternoon gets smaller and worse. Sunday, July 5th sees a bigger 8 ft SW swell with a very long 17-second period, which means proper energy (3744), but the wind is a strong cross-shore. This thing will be bumpy and tricky—definitely one for the experts only if you’re keen on tackling a beast.

Monday, July 6th, fades quickly. The swell drops to 5 ft and the wind is still cross. Clean lines are hard to come by. The next few days are patchy with moderate wind and cross-chop, though Wednesday, July 8th packs a punch with 8 ft SW at 18-seconds—that’s a serious long-period groundswell (3705). But the wind is cross, so expect some bump. Not the cleanest, but the power is there for those who can handle it.

The standout moment on the near-term horizon is Friday afternoon, July 10th. The wind swings offshore from the north at 15 mph, the swell is a clean 4 ft from the SW with a 14-second period (726 combined energy). The conditions are described as “clean” and the surf is expected to be very good. This is the one you want to paddle out for if you can get there. Glassy conditions early, and the offshore wind will hold the lines nicely. Not huge, but quality.

Wednesday, July 15th, is a gem of a day. The wind is glassy, the swell is 6 ft from the SW with a long 15-second period (1608-1647 combined energy). Conditions are described as “excellent” for experienced surfers. This is a late-morning and afternoon session for the books. Clean, predictable lines on the reef. Crowds are possible here, so get there early.

Monday, July 13th afternoon is a weird one. 13 ft SW at 17 seconds is massive energy (16062), but it’s a classic “too big for this break” warning. Unless you’re a pro and want to stare down huge walls, it’s a spectator day.

The 14th and 15th are the real highlights. The 15th (Wednesday) especially—glassy, clean, and solid 6 ft SW swell. That is the pick of the bunch.

For the second week, things stay active but less certain. Thursday, July 16th has a 7 ft SW swell with a 17-second period (2259), but wind turns cross-onshore. Friday-Sunday (17th-19th) has smaller swells (4 ft to 5 ft) with cleaner cross-off winds, so you’ll still find fun, punchy waves at Chinamans if you time the tides. Consistency is fairly reliable, but the big, clean days are behind us.

In short: the first weekend is average, the real standout is Friday 10th afternoon (clean offshore) and the absolute gem is Wednesday 15th (glassy, 6 ft). If you’re chasing the biggest, wildest energy, the 13th will be massive but beyond the limit for almost everyone. The rest of the week is low-key but rideable.

Stay stoked.
Rusty.

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