Church Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s talk about Church Cove.

Right off the bat, I’m gonna be straight with you—this 16-day window is a tough one for Church Cove. It’s a pretty little spot, but the surf gods are not playing nice. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 66°F, which is a nice bonus, but that’s about the only silver lining for a while.

We start on Friday the 21st with a bit of swell, around 4ft coming from the west, but it’s a messy cross-offshore wind at 16 mph. The wave energy is moderate (207), but the report calls it poor, and I can feel the frustration. That trend sticks with us through the weekend and into the following week. The swell is tiny, often under 2ft, and the wind just won’t cooperate. It’s a long, dry spell with no real surf to speak of.

Then, around Wednesday the 26th, the swell starts to pick up—5ft on Wednesday morning, building to 6ft by the afternoon, and even hitting 8ft on Friday the 28th. But the wind is all wrong. It’s coming from the south and southwest, pushing straight onshore and making everything a lumpy, choppy mess. The energy is strong, hitting over 700 on the 28th, but you wouldn’t want to be out there. This stretch is more of a kite surfer’s dream than a paddle surfer’s, honestly.

We get a little break in the wind on Tuesday the 1st of September. The morning looks promising with a chunky 7ft west swell (energy a massive 1132) and a gentle cross-onshore breeze. The report calls it marginal, but for a big wave surfer who can handle the power, it’s the only real window of the whole period. The swell is just over 7ft, so it’s expert territory only. The period is short at 8 seconds, so it’s not the cleanest groundswell, but it’s the biggest push we get.

After that, it fades. The last real chance is on Saturday the 5th of September. The swell drops to 3ft from the west, but the wind goes completely glassy in the afternoon. That’s a beautiful moment—clean, smooth, and surfable, but tiny. The wave energy is light (122). It’s a cruisy longboard session if you’re desperate, but not a standout.

Overall, there’s a long gap of no real surf from the start until that big but messy swell around the 28th, then another gap until the glassy session on the 5th. If you’re an expert, the morning of the 1st of September is the best on offer, but it’s a gamble. Everyone else, keep your board in the car and check back in a few days.

Rusty.

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