Cobden Beach - The Channel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s get into it.

We’ve got a solid run of surf coming up at Cobden Beach - The Channel over the next 16 days, but it’s a tale of two halves. The first week is all about big, powerful swell with tricky winds, while the second week settles into cleaner, more manageable conditions. The water temperature is 55°, which is a touch warmer than average for this time of year – nothing too wild, but noticeable.

The standout session is Friday 21st August morning. The swell is 3 ft from the WSW, with a long 14-second period – proper groundswell. The wind is glassy from the SE at 3 mph, making for silky smooth conditions. The combined energy is 443 (moderate), and the wave comment says it all: “expect good surf conditions.” This is the pick of the whole forecast.

Friday 21st afternoon holds up nicely too, with 3 ft WSW swell and glassy 3 mph winds from the W. The energy drops slightly to 336, but still clean.

Saturday 22nd August is a write-off. The morning has 2 ft W swell with a cross 9 mph NNE wind, and by the afternoon the swell jumps to 5 ft but the wind swings cross-on at 16 mph from the NNW. The energy climbs to 650, but it’s choppy and messy. Then Sunday 23rd is a mess – 16 ft to 18 ft W swell with 28 mph cross-on winds, energy up around 5200 to 7596 – that’s dangerous, not fun. Kite territory, not paddle.

Monday 24th to Wednesday 26th sees big swell (7 ft to 13 ft) with clean glassy mornings on Monday, but the swell is too big for this break – over 8 ft on Monday, so only for experts. The combined energy is 6184 on Monday morning, which is very strong. Winds are mostly light or offshore, but the size is the issue.

Thursday 27th August is marginal, with 3 ft to 4 ft WSW swell, gentler but cross-shore winds. Energy sits around 839-903. Not great, not terrible.

The second week kicks off with a nice run from Friday 28th August – but again, the swell is 13 ft from the NW, too big for most. However, winds are clean and cross-off from the ENE at 12 mph. Energy is 3309 – strong. Saturday 29th drops to 3 ft-3 ft but with a very long 20-second period, but the wind is cross-on, making it marginal.

The true gem of the second week is Monday 31st August morning. The swell is 4 ft from the WSW at 10 seconds, with a light cross-off 6 mph breeze from the ENE. Energy is 587 (moderate), and the wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions.” Clean and fun. Tuesday 1st September morning is also a beauty – 4 ft WSW swell at 15 seconds, with 6 mph ESE cross-off winds. Energy at 754, and again “expect very good surf conditions.” This is a solid, consistent option.

From Wednesday 2nd to Friday 4th September, the swell stays around 4 ft to 4 ft from the WSW, with offshore to cross-off winds and clean conditions. Energy is moderate (437-926). Good, reliable waves for the consistent, consistent break that Cobden Beach - The Channel is. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, so the 3 ft-5 ft range is perfect. The break is exposed to WSW swell, and the optimum swell direction is WSW – it’s spot on.

Saturday 5th September afternoon looks promising – 10 ft from the WNW with glassy 3 mph winds, but that’s over 8 ft, so only for experts. Energy is 1489 (strong).

Overall, the best bets are Friday 21st August morning for the glassy, long-period groundswell, and Monday 31st August morning for clean, consistent waves. The second week is more reliable for quality, but the first week has the real standout.

Rusty.

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