Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta say, looking at the 16-day window for our stretch of coast, it’s a pretty grim picture. We’re staring down the barrel of a long, flat spell with nothing really worth paddling out for. The whole forecast is essentially a write-off for quality surf, so don't bother waxing up just yet.

Let’s break it down. The first real chance of anything is on Monday, August 3rd, but it’s a total washout. Cottons Point (reef and point) is seeing a tiny 2 ft swell from the SW, but the wind is cross-onshore at 6 mph, and the report flat out says "poor surf conditions." The wave energy is weak (120) and the period is a long 13 seconds, which would normally be promising, but not with that wind. It’s a no-go.

The whole first week is a bust. Tuesday the 4th through to Sunday the 9th all show the same story: small, onshore wind, and "poor surf conditions" dominating the forecast. The swell direction never matches the optimum SW, and the wind is constantly onshore or cross-onshore. Even when the energy picks up a little on the 7th, hitting 447 (moderate energy), it’s paired with a 19-second period that would be too straight for the beach, and the onshore wind just kills it. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

The second week is more of the same. Monday, August 10th, has a brief moment with a 20-second period groundswell on the afternoon, but it's still only 2 ft and onshore wind. That’s a cruel tease. From the 11th through to the 18th, it’s a monotonous grind of small, weak, onshore slop. The combined energy stays in the 200s and 300s, and the wind is always onshore or cross-onshore. There’s one standout positive to mention here: the consistency. Cottons Point is listed as *consistent*, meaning it tends to get waves, but in this 16-day stretch, the quality just isn't there. A consistent break with poor surf is still a poor surf forecast.

The truth is, there are no standouts here. Not one day offers a clean, rideable wave. The best we can say is that the onshore wind is light, so it’s not a total maelstrom, but it’s enough to ruin the tiny, weak swell. For a spot that’s a reef and point, the long-period groundswells that do show up are being wasted by terrible wind. If you’re a kite surfer, the cross-onshore might be the only thing worth looking at, but for us paddle surfers, this is a solid 16-day blank. The forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a hard pass. Keep the board in the car and wait for a better run.

Rusty.

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