Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what we’ve got on the horizon.

We’re looking at a run that starts off promising but turns into a bit of a waiting game. The first real action kicks off on Friday morning, August 28th, with a long-period groundswell out of the SSW. The waves are small, only about 3 ft, but the energy is deceptively good at 515. With a 17-second period, these waves have some serious punch for their size. Cottons Point is a reef and point break, so that long period will give you some nice, lined-up waves. The wind is light from the SW, blowing straight onshore, but it’s just a light breeze, so it won’t ruin it. It’s a bit marginal, but there’s a few to be had if you’re keen.

The water temp is about average for the season, so no surprises there.

Saturday morning, August 29th, the swell builds to about 4 ft from the SSW, still with a 17-second period. The combined energy jumps to 757, showing there’s some real weight in the water. The wind is still light, making the morning session the pick of the day. The afternoon gets a bit more cross-onshore, so it’ll get a little choppy.

Sunday, August 30th, the swell drops to 4 ft and the period slips to 15 seconds. The wind goes more cross-on, making the surface a bit bumpy. It’s still surfable, but the quality is fading.

Then we hit a dry patch. From Monday, August 31st, through to Monday, September 7th, the surf is mostly small, weak, and choppy. The combined energy drops into the 200s and 400s, and the scores are poor. You’ll see some swell, but it’s mostly messy. You’re looking at about a week of pretty average conditions.

The one real standout, the one that might get you out of bed, is shaping up for Tuesday, September 8th. The afternoon session brings a solid 6 ft swell from the S, with a combined energy of 1260 – that’s serious wave energy. The period is 13 seconds, a solid groundswell. The wind is a gentle cross-onshore from the W, so it’ll be a little bumpy but not blown out. This is the biggest swell of the forecast, and at that size, it’s getting into intermediate and expert territory. For the experienced crew, Cottons should have some punchy, fun walls. The morning of the 8th is also decent at 5 ft, but the afternoon has the edge.

Wednesday, September 9th, holds that size, with 6 ft in the morning, but the period drops to 12 seconds and the wind stays cross-on. The energy is still high (1247), but the afternoon session gets a bit sloppy with the period dropping to 11 seconds.

Towards the end, Thursday, September 10th, the swell drops back to 3 ft, but the wind goes light and onshore again, which could clean things up a little. It’s nothing special, but it’s better than the choppy stuff that follows.

Honestly, the standout is Tuesday afternoon, September 8th. That’s where the size and energy come together. The rest of the run is either small, choppy, or both. The first week is a bit of a slog, so don’t force it. The second week offers a spike, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it.

Signing off, Rusty.

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