Cintsa West Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right folks, grab a coffee and settle in because we’re looking at the next sixteen days for our local stretch. It’s Cintsa West, and I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – this forecast is a bit of a mixed bag with a whole lot of waiting around.

The first week is pretty dismal to be honest. We’ve got a solid stretch of marginal or poor conditions right through the first several days. The first few days of September are weak, with a small 3ft to 5ft swell from the SSW, but the wind is all over the shop – cross and cross-on – and the wave energy is just limp. On Wednesday the 2nd, the combined energy sits at 1011 in the morning, which is only moderate, and it drops off even more in the arvo. The water is sitting at 65°, which is a degree colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent spring suit.

Then we get a proper spike in size. Friday the 4th sees a 10ft swell from the SSE, but the period is only 10 seconds, dropping to 9 seconds by the arvo. The wind is onshore at 9 to 12 mph, and the whole thing is listed as marginal. This is a big, messy, wind-affected wall of water. For a point break like Cintsa West, that size and wind direction means it’s going to be a washing machine. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The weekend after that is a write-off, with a weird mix of long-period but tiny swell on the 6th (2ft at 23 seconds) and more fresh cross-shore breeze. The combined energy on Sunday morning is 714, which is moderate, but not much use with that height. The following Monday, the 7th, is even worse – a 8ft swell from the ENE with a short 8-second period and a 22 mph cross-shore breeze. That’s a big, bumpy, ugly day.

So, where’s the good news? Honestly, the standout window is a long way off, so take it with a pinch of salt. Look towards the very end of the run. On Thursday the 17th of September, we get a proper pulse of groundswell. The morning shows a 6ft swell from the SSW with a period of 15 seconds, combined energy of 1553 (strong) and a moderate cross-shore breeze. The arvo holds a 5ft swell from the S, also 15 seconds, with energy at 1180, and the wind backs off to a gentle cross-onshore. This is the only real window that looks like it could offer some proper, lined-up waves at Cintsa West. The direction is a bit off the optimum SE, but for a point break, a long-period SSW groundswell can often wrap in nicely. It’s the only moment in the whole forecast that looks promising.

The rest of the period is a slog. The 12th and 13th have some size (7ft to 8ft from the E) but the period is short (6-8 seconds) and the wind is on or cross-on. It’s gonna be a crumbly mess. This area is known for these blank runs, so don’t be too gutted – forecasts can change, but right now, you’re waiting a long time for that Thursday the 17th.

Keep an eye on the charts, but for now, I’d be planning a session for the 17th if you can. Everything else is a hard pass.

Rusty

Read more