Church Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the next couple of weeks at Church Cove.

First thing to note is the water temp is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sittin’ at about 64°, which is a nice little bonus.

Tuesday morning the 8th is the first chance you get, but it’s a tease. There’s a clean 5ft swell rollin’ in from the WNW, with moderate energy (891). The wind is a stiff cross-offshore from the NNW at 22 mph, keeping the surface clean, but the conditions are marginal. The swell period is a short 9 seconds, so it’s not gonna have that power. It’s surfable, but you’re workin’ for it.

The rest of the first week into the second is a total loss. Wednesday through Saturday (the 9th to the 13th) are all cross-shore winds and onshore slop, with swell heights between 2ft and 6ft. The wind is ruining the surface, creating chop and lumpy conditions. Sunday the 14th and Monday the 15th are barely a ripple, with tiny waist-high stuff and no push.

Now, if you’ve got patience, Tuesday the 15th afternoon is a glimmer. The wind shifts to a clean cross-offshore from the NNW at 12 mph, and we’ve got a 4ft swell from the W, but the period stretches to 11 seconds. That’s a longer period groundswell, which means more energy (377) and better shaped waves. Church Cove is fairly exposed, and this setup will clean up nicely. It’s the best on offer in the first half.

The real standout is Thursday the 17th. The morning is glassy with a light offshore breeze from the NE at 9 mph, and the swell is 2ft from the W. The afternoon is even better – the wind goes completely glassy, 3 mph, and the waves are a clean 2ft with a very long period of 12 seconds (139). This is a long-period groundswell, breaking slow and clean. It’s not big, but it’ll be a dream to surf. This is the pick of the whole forecast.

The tail end from the 18th to the 23rd is frustrating. The wind stays cross-offshore from the E, but it’s howling at 19 to 25 mph. The swell is there, ranging from 2ft to 4ft, and the period gets long (up to 14 seconds), but the wind is just too strong to keep it clean. The conditions are poor, and the waves will be blown out. Don’t bother.

So, if you’re keen, the only real windows are Tuesday the 15th afternoon for a clean, mid-sized session, and Thursday the 17th for that rare, glassy, long-period treat. The rest is a long, frustrating gap of wind and chop.

Rusty.

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