Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’.

Alright, let’s be straight with you – the next week and a half is pretty flat and frustrating at Cottons Point. The swell is tiny, the winds are mostly cross or cross-onshore, and the forecast is full of “poor” and “marginal” calls. We’re talkin’ day after day of small, weak, short-period slop that’s barely gonna break. The water’s sitting at a nice 71°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only good news. You’ll be paddling around on a lot of nothing, with combined swell energy reading between 199 and 373 (weak to low-moderate) for the first few days. It’s a tough stretch until we get some proper push.

The first real blip of hope shows up on the morning of Wednesday, August 26th. We finally see a bump of S swell coming in at 5 ft, with a period of 14 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, and the combined energy jumps up to 1377 (strong). The morning has a gentle breeze from the S making it cross-onshore, so it’ll be a bit choppy, but the afternoon cleans up with lighter winds. You’ll get some fun, punchy waves at Cottons (a reef and point setup) – this long period swell will wrap nicely around that point, giving you some longer, more powerful lines. It’s still in the “marginal” quality zone due to the wind, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a week. This is a session for the intermediate crew who don’t mind a bit of chop.

The standout, though, is the action on September 4th and 5th. That’s the one to circle. September 4th (Friday) afternoon sees a clean 5 ft S swell with a 15-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 1525 (very strong). Winds go light and offshore from the SW – that’s a clean, glassy face. This is the pick of the entire 16-day run. Then on September 5th (Saturday), it gets bigger: 7 ft to 7 ft of S swell, also with a 14-second period, and the combined energy is pushing 2049 (very strong). The winds stay offshore from the SW. This is solid, powerful groundswell, and with offshore winds, Cottons Point will be running like a dream. However, at 7 ft+, this is expert territory – too big and powerful for beginners, but a proper treat for experienced surfers. The long period swell will wrap around that point, giving you nice, lined-up walls. Consistency won’t be an issue, but with that quality, expect the crowds to show.

So, to sum it up: the first week and a half is a write-off. Don’t bother. Save your energy for Wednesday, August 26th for a fun but slightly messy session, and absolutely do not miss September 4th and 5th. September 5th, with that big, clean, offshore swell, is the true standout.

Rusty

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