Coastguard Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s lay it on the line: the next couple of weeks around Coastguard Beach are looking proper flat and pretty grim. There’s no decent swell on the horizon, and it’s not like we’re waiting just a day or two. The whole 16-day stretch is a bust. We’re looking at a long run of tiny, weak waves, mostly under two feet, with the wind and chop making things rougher than they need to be. It’s one of those blank spells that seems to drag on forever.

Right now, and for the next few days, it’s all about micro dribbles. Tuesday morning (August 11th) is glassy, which is nice, but the swell is a pathetic `0.3ft` from the east with a short `9s` period. The combined energy is a weak `4` – barely a pulse. The water is running a touch warmer than usual for the season, at `72°F`, which is a couple of degrees above the long-term average. But warm water doesn’t make waves. The afternoon is the same story, just a ripple.

Wednesday and Thursday (August 12-13) don’t get any better. We get a bit of south in the swell, but the period drops right off – down to `4s` to `5s` – which is just pure wind chop. No push, no power. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-shore, making it messy. Thursday afternoon has a fresh breeze that keeps it clean, but the swell is still only `0.3ft` to `0.7ft`. This is not surf.

We get a tiny bump on Saturday (August 15th) morning. The swell nudges up to `3ft` from the north with a `5s` period. The energy is still weak at `47`. The wind is cross-off so it’ll be clean, but that short period means it’s just crumbly, gutless slop. Maybe a thigh-high roller for a log, but it’s nothing to write home about. Sunday settles right back down.

The middle of the week from August 17th through the 19th is more of the same – poor conditions, lumpy cross-shore winds, and waves only `1ft` to `2ft`. There’s a bit more energy on the 18th and 19th as the swell period stretches out (`8s` to `12s`), but the direction (ESE) isn’t great for this break, and the wind is all over the place. It’s a messy blend of wind and swell.

The final week, from August 20th onwards, stays in the same rut. The swell direction shifts slightly, but the size remains tiny. The period does pick up to `8s` to `10s`, giving a bit more push, but the energy is still only in the moderate range (in the `30s` and `40s`). The wind goes cross-off a lot of the time, making the surface look like glass, but you’re still riding a ripple. There’s nothing here that’s going to wrap around the point or push down the beach.

The closest thing to a highlight is Monday morning, August 24th. We see the energy climb to `71` with a `2ft` SSE swell at `8s`. The wind is cross-off and clean. But let’s be real – `2ft` isn’t a standout. It’s a tiny, clean wave for a longboard cruise, but it won’t satisfy anyone looking for a proper session. Given the persistent small swell and cross-onshore winds, if you’re not into paddling, this setup might actually be more fun for a kite session than a surf. The waves are too weak and the wind too inconsistent for anything else.

So, bottom line: there are no good surf options in this 16-day window. It’s flat, it’s weak, and it’s not looking like changing. But hey, Coastguard can be consistent at times, so this kind of dry spell is a bit of a downgrade. Forecasts change, and with a bit of luck, something will pop up, but as it stands, leave the boards in the shed and go for a swim instead.

Rusty.

Read more