Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a 16-day window looking at Cottons Point, and honestly, it’s a bit of a slow burner. The first week or so is pretty frustrating with small, weak swell and a persistent cross-onshore wind messing up the face. The combined energy stays low, mostly sitting between 200 and 500 (weak to moderate), which is just not enough to get excited about. Hold tight, because the real action doesn’t fire until we get into the second week.

Friday the 21st kicks things off with a tiny 2ft SSW swell, but it’s a glassy morning with light offshore wind from the SW, so it’s clean. The problem is the wave energy is only 247 (weak), and it’s described as marginal. It’s not going to be worth paddling out for. The wind goes cross-onshore in the afternoon, and the surf drops to 2ft.

Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are a write-off. The swell stays between 2ft and 2ft, with a cross-onshore breeze that makes it choppy. The energy is below 300 (weak). Don’t bother.

The whole of the following week – from Monday the 24th through to Thursday the 3rd of September – is a steady run of poor to marginal conditions. The swell is mostly 2ft to 2ft, occasionally bumping up to 3ft or 4ft, but that cross-onshore wind (W or WSW) just won’t let up. The combined energy on the 25th and 26th climbs into the 400s and 900s (moderate), but the wind kills it. On the 27th, the swell hits 5ft from the SSW with a period of 14 seconds, and the energy is 965 (moderate), but again, it’s cross-onshore and lumpy. Not a single standout.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Keep your eyes on Friday the 4th of September. We’ve got a morning window that looks like the best of the entire forecast. The swell is 3ft from the south with a period of 16 seconds – that’s a proper long-period groundswell, which means shape and power. The combined energy jumps to 944 (moderate), and the wind goes glassy – not a breath of air from the SW at 3 mph. That is clean, clean surf. This is a point break, so it should handle that long period beautifully. Saturday morning the 5th then sees the swell jump to 6ft from the south with a 14-second period, and the energy hits 1386 (strong), with a light offshore wind. That’s going to be a punchy, powerful wave, but at 6ft it’s getting a bit big for beginners, and the period is still long, so it’ll be solid. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.

The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual to report.

The first week is a grind, but that Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th are the standouts. Don’t sleep on that glassy morning.

Rusty.

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