Church Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a long stretch ahead for Church Cove, and to be honest, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Most of the time we’re looking at small, weak swell with cross-off breezes, but nothing really firing. The water’s sitting at a touch warmer than normal, about 66°, which is a nice change for this time of year.

The first real chance to get wet comes on Monday the 10th of August. We’re looking at a small 2ft swell from the west-northwest, period is a short 6 seconds, so it’s a bit weak and wonky. Combined energy is only 67, so don’t expect much push. The breeze is light and cross-off, so it’ll be clean, but it’s pretty ordinary. Tuesday and Wednesday are even worse, with winds picking up and the swell dropping off. Thursday the 13th sees a small bump to 4ft from the west with a slightly better 11-second period, and energy jumping to 326, but the wind is a messy cross-off to cross, so it’s not going to be great.

Friday the 14th through to Tuesday the 18th is a real dry spell. The swell sticks around 3ft to 4ft, but the wind is either moderate or fresh, and it’s cross-off or cross-on, so the wave quality is poor. There’s a gap of several days here where you’d be better off doing something else.

Now, there is a glimmer of hope. On Wednesday the 19th, we get a 4ft west swell with a long 11-second period, energy at 302, and the wind is a clean cross-off from the north. That’s surfable, but still not a standout. The real standout, and I mean the only one worth circling on the calendar, is Saturday the 22nd of August. It’s a glassy morning with offshore wind from the northeast, and the afternoon goes completely glassy. The swell is 5ft from the west-southwest, but the period is a short 5 seconds, so it’s a bit of a weak, windswell. Energy is 153. That glassy condition will make it look better than it is, but it’s the cleanest we’ll see.

Then we get a big spike on Sunday the 23rd of August. We’re looking at a 10ft west swell with a 10-second period, and energy is massive at 1691. That’s a lot of power. But the wind is a strong cross-off from the north-northwest, so it’s clean. However, at 10ft, this is expert territory only. The afternoon turns to a fresh cross-shore with lumpy chop, so the morning is your only window. This is a serious, powerful swell, and it’s only for the experienced.

Beyond that, the last week of the forecast is a letdown. Small, weak swell, and the wind is pretty much all cross or cross-on with choppy conditions. The only saving grace is a 15-second long-period swell on Tuesday the 25th of August, but it’s only 2ft and the wind is a fresh cross-onshore, so it’s messy.

So, bottom line: the best bet is the glassy, clean surf on Saturday the 22nd of August. It’s not huge, but it’ll be the most fun for the average surfer. If you’re an expert and want something gnarly, the Sunday morning the 23rd of August is your shot, but it’s a big, powerful wave. Otherwise, it’s a pretty quiet run.

Rusty.

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