Constantine Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a seat, grab a cuppa. Let's talk about Constantine Bay, ‘cause there’s a lot to unpack here, and honestly, it’s a mixed bag of a fortnight.

The forecast starts with a bit of a whimper. For the first few days, we’ve got some swell, sure, but the wind is just all wrong. We’re looking at a solid run of poor surf conditions through to the 12th of September. The wave energy is there, with a moderate 1632 (combined energy) on Monday the 7th and a 7ft swell from the west, but that Westerly wind is blowing straight across the face, making it choppy and messy. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 64°, which is nice, but it doesn’t make the waves rideable. The beach and reef setup here is exposed to the west, which is the right direction, but the wind is the enemy.

There’s a glimmer of hope on the morning of Sunday the 13th of September. It’s only a marginal surf forecast, with a 4ft swell from the west, but the wind is a gentle cross-offshore from the NNE. That’s going to clean things up a bit. It’s a short window, and the energy is weak (214 combined energy), but it’s the first sign of something that might be worth a look if you’re desperate.

Then we hit a bit of a dry spell again until the 16th of September. The swell picks up on Wednesday the 16th – a solid 10ft from the west. The wave energy is serious (1111 to 1440 combined energy), but it’s still cross-on, and the period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s going to be a bit of a washing machine. The surf is marginal, not great. This is only for the experts, really. That 10ft is getting into big territory, and with the wind slapping it, it’s not for the faint-hearted.

The real standout, the one I’d be keeping an eye on, is the morning of Thursday the 17th of September. The swell has dropped a touch to a still-strong 8ft from the west, with a period of 10 seconds. That’s a nice, powerful groundswell. But the magic is the wind: a light breeze from the SSW, blowing straight across the onshore. It’s going to be clean, light cross-onshore with small wind ripples, making it a lot more manageable. The wave energy is 1250, which is plenty. This is the best bet in the whole run. It’s still a big wave, so it’s for the intermediate and above crew, but that clean face will be a treat.

After that, the swell hangs around, but things get messy again. The 18th of September sees a 12ft monster from the WNW (1807 combined energy), but it’s a no-go with the wind. The rest of the run fades back into poor surf conditions, with the swell dropping to 2ft on the 20th and 21st. It’s a real shame, because the groundswell wants to work, but the wind just won’t play ball.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off. The weekend of the 13th might give you a little clean wave, but the real highlight is the morning of Thursday the 17th of September. Mark it. For the rest, you’re looking at a lot of onshore chop. For the really big days, it’s more of a kite-surfing kind of setup than a paddle session.

Rusty.

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