Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks at Cottons Point.

Straight up, it’s a bit of a slow grind for the first week. The surf is small and the wind is just not playing ball. Don’t expect much until we get into the back half of the forecast period.

The water temp is sitting around 68°, which feels a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a nice little bonus for the session.

For the first week, from Sunday July 12th right through to Monday July 20th, it’s pretty grim. You’re looking at tiny waves between 1 ft and 4 ft, with a cross-onshore wind messing up the surface. The combined swell energy is weak to moderate (between 170 and 446), and the wave comment is consistently “poor surf conditions”. There’s no real standout here. You’d be paddling for nothing.

Now, things start to change around Saturday July 18th. The swell picks up a bit, reaching 5 ft from the South with a 14-second period. The combined energy jumps to 1080, which is solid moderate energy. The wind is still a cross-onshore, so it’s not glassy, but it’s a better option than the previous days. It’s still only a marginal call, though.

The real window of interest opens up on Wednesday July 22nd. The swell starts to build, and by the afternoon we see 4 ft from the South with a 15-second period, and the combined energy hits 1071. The wind finally swings to a light onshore, which is a step in the right direction. But the best chance for a clean wave comes on Sunday July 26th, in the afternoon. The swell drops to 2 ft from the SSW, but it’s a long-period 19-second groundswell, with combined energy of 453. The wind goes glassy – light offshore from the SW. That’s the cleanest window of the whole forecast. The waves will be small, but for a glassy, long-period swell, Cottons Point as a reef and point setup could actually offer some fun, lined-up waves.

The following Monday July 27th sees a bit more size (3 ft from the SW, 18-second period) with a light onshore, so it’s still a goer.

Overall, if you’re a beginner, the swell stays under 5 ft for most of it, so you’re mostly safe. For the experts, the 5 ft to 6 ft days on July 23rd and 24th are still manageable. The crowd situation at Cottons Point can be “sometimes” busy, so mid-week or the glassy Sunday afternoon might be your best bet for a quieter paddle.

The standout of the whole forecast is that Sunday July 26th afternoon. The glassy conditions with that long-period groundswell will make it the cleanest and most enjoyable session. It’s a late call, but it’s the one to circle.

Rusty.

Read more