Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here. Look, I've scanned the charts for the next 16 days and I gotta be straight with you—it's a pretty quiet stretch for Cottons Point. The swell's just not showing any real energy, and most days are looking pretty marginal. The water's sitting at a balmy 74°F, which is a full 7°F warmer than usual for this time of year—that's very unusual, and it'll feel like a bath out there.

The forecast starts on Tuesday the 11th of August, but it's a bit of a slow burner. Tuesday morning has a tiny 2ft SSW swell with a weak combined energy of just 222. The wind is a cross-on 9 mph from the WSW, making it choppy. Tuesday afternoon bumps up to a 2ft SW swell with a 18-second period, which is a long-period groundswell, and the energy climbs to 438—still moderate, but the cross-on wind keeps it messy. Thursday the 13th gets a little more interesting: by Thursday afternoon, we've got a 3ft SW swell, 16-second period, energy at 475, but the wind is onshore, so it's a marginal call at best.

The standout, if you can call it that, is Friday the 14th of August. Friday morning sees a 2ft SSW swell, 18-second period, and the combined energy hits 535—moderate. The wind is onshore but light, so the waves might have a bit of shape. The swell direction (SSW) is not quite the optimum SW, but it's close. Crowds are possible here, so you might have some company. Still, the surf quality is rated poor, so don't expect magic.

After that, it's a long, flat run. From Saturday the 15th through to Wednesday the 26th of August, the swell stays tiny, mostly 2ft to 3ft, with combined energy rarely breaking 400. The wind is often cross-on or onshore, and the surf is consistently poor or marginal. The 22nd of August has a 2ft SSW swell with a 16-second period, but the energy is weak at 183. There's a brief bump on Thursday the 20th with a 3ft SSW swell and 14-second period, but the energy is only 398 and the wind is cross-on. Honestly, this stretch is more suited to a paddleboard than a surfboard.

To be blunt, there's no real quality surf on offer in this 16-day window. The consistent but poor conditions mean it's a blank run, and that's not unusual for this area. If you're desperate, keep an eye on Friday the 14th for the best of a bad bunch, but temper your expectations. There's no big swell on the horizon, and the wind is rarely your friend. I'd say it's time to clean the wax off your board and wait for a better forecast.

Rusty.

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