Church Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Church Cove has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the outlook for Church Cove is a tough one. The entire 16-day window is a real struggle. There isn’t a single day where the stars align for a decent paddle. The energy is just all over the place, and the wind is rarely our friend.

The first real chance of any waves comes on Saturday the 22nd of August, but it’s a tiny 1ft swell from the WSW with a period of 9 seconds. The wind is a cross-off from the ESE at 9 mph, which should keep the surface clean, but the combined energy is a weak 39. It’s a windswell, not a groundswell, so don’t expect much push. The water is sitting at 66°F, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year.

Moving into the first week of September, the swell picks up a bit, but it’s all messy. On the 1st of September, we’ve got a 4ft swell from the west, but it’s a short 7-second period, and the wind is a cross-on from the WNW at 12 mph. The combined energy is only 147, and it’s described as “moderate cross-onshore and choppy.” Not a pretty picture.

There’s a notable spike in size around the 27th and 28th of August, with waves hitting 7ft and 6ft respectively from the SSW and WSW. But the wind is blowing straight onshore from the SW at 19 mph, or cross-on from the WNW at 25 mph. The energy jumps up to 1153 and 716, which is significant, but the quality is described as “poor surf conditions.” For a spot like Church Cove, which is a fairly exposed beach, this onshore and cross-onshore wind will just tear it to pieces. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddler.

The only small glimmer of hope is on the 2nd of September morning. The wind turns light, a WNW breeze at just 6 mph, and the swell is a tiny 2ft from the west. The energy is a weak 83. It’s described as “light cross-shore with small crossing wind ripples.” It’s clean, but there’s just no power. It’s a rare moment of calm, but the wave size is tiny.

The long-range stuff, like the 6th of September, has a 3ft swell from the WNW with a 10-second period, but the wind is howling at 25 mph from the WNW. The energy is 171, but it’s a strong cross-onshore mess. The swell is too short and the wind is too strong to make anything of it.

To be honest, this is a long, blank run for Church Cove. The conditions are just never good enough. The wind is almost always wrong, and when the swell does show up, it’s accompanied by onshore or cross-onshore winds that ruin the shape. It’s a tough call, but if you’re looking for a paddle, you’re better off waiting for the next forecast cycle. The forecasts can change, but right now, there’s nothing to get excited about.

Rusty.

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