Clovelly Bombie Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the Clovelly Bombie.

First off, the water temperature is sitting at 61°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – about two and a half degrees below average, so you’ll want a good wetsuit.

The outlook starts on Monday, 10 August, but honestly, it’s a write-off for a while. Monday morning has a 6ft swell from the ENE with a 9-second period and a combined energy of 497 (moderate wave energy), but that’s ruined by a strong NNW breeze. The conditions are clean but the wind is howling, and it’s a cross-off, so it’s a no-go for paddle surfing.

The rest of that first week is pretty flat and poor. Tuesday, 11 August, sees the swell drop to 2ft in the morning with offshore wind from the WSW, but it’s small and weak – combined energy of just 78. The afternoon is even smaller. Wednesday and Thursday are tiny, with swell under 2ft. Friday, 14 August, the swell bottoms out at 1ft. It’s basically a long, quiet gap from Monday through to the end of the week. Nothing worth paddling out for.

Saturday, 15 August, a short-period SSE swell pops up at 3ft to 3ft, but the period is only 6 to 7 seconds, and there’s rain and a cross-shore wind. Not a good time. Sunday is even smaller.

The next real chance shows up on Monday, 17 August, with a 4ft to 4ft ESE swell, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore and it’s choppy. Poor conditions. Tuesday, 18 August, pushes up to 6ft from the ESE with a 7-8 second period and combined energy over 300, but again, onshore wind and poor surf conditions. For a reef setup like Clovelly Bombie, this is messy and not recommended for a paddle.

The first standout arrives on Thursday, 20 August. That morning, the swell is 4ft from the ENE, 8-second period, and the combined energy is strong at 538. The wind is light offshore from the west, so it’s clean. The guidance rates this as expecting very good surf conditions. This is the best on offer in the whole period. The Bombie needs that offshore wind to work, and you’re getting it. Keep in mind it’s an inconsistent, rarely-breaking reef for advanced surfers only, so don’t expect it to fire every set, but when it does, it’ll be clean.

Friday, 21 August morning, the swell holds at 4ft from the E, combined energy drops to 239, but the wind is light from the WNW, keeping it clean. Good conditions but not as strong as Thursday.

After that, Saturday 22 August is marginal with cross-shore winds, and Sunday 23 August sees a bigger 5ft ENE swell with an 11-second period and a massive combined energy of 796 (strong to very strong wave energy), but the wind is cross-shore and there’s light rain. It’s a marginal call – the long period makes it better for a reef like this, but the wind isn’t ideal.

Monday, 24 August, brings a 6ft SSE swell with 8-second period and combined energy over 750, but it’s cross-off wind from the NW, so the conditions are clean but the swell direction isn’t optimal for the Bombie’s best shape.

Tuesday, 25 August, has a 5ft E swell with a very long 13-second period and combined energy of 706, but the wind turns onshore in the afternoon. The morning has light offshore wind from the SW, so it’s a possibility, but the long period and east direction might not line up perfectly for this spot.

For beginners, anything over 5ft is getting too big, and over 8ft is expert-only. Here, the biggest is 6ft, so it’s manageable for confident intermediates, but the Bombie is an advanced wave anyway.

The real standout is the morning of Thursday, 20 August. If you’re an experienced surfer and you can get out then, that’s your window. Otherwise, the whole first week is a bust, and the second week has a few promising mornings but nothing as clean and lined up as that Thursday.

-Rusty

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