Cowries Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a decent run of surf coming up, but it’s not without its ups and downs. The main event is around Cowries, a reef and point setup that’s fairly consistent and works best with a swell from the ENE. The water’s sitting at a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, about 65°, which is a nice little bonus.

The action kicks off this Friday, the 31st of July. Morning sees a clean 5ft swell from the south, with a light cross-off breeze. The combined energy is moderate (474), and it’s looking pretty good. The afternoon picks up to a solid 7ft, but the period drops to 9 seconds, and the energy jumps to strong (1195). The wind stays cross-off, so it’ll be a bit more powerful but still clean. That Friday afternoon is probably the standout of the first weekend – proper fun waves.

Saturday morning, the 1st of August, is still clean with a 5ft SSE swell and light cross-off wind. The energy is moderate (342). However, the afternoon looks a bit of a write-off as the wind shifts onshore.

Sunday the 2nd has a longer period 12-second swell from the SE, which is a groundswell, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The morning is 5ft with a cross-shore wind, giving a gentle chop. The energy is moderate (677). The afternoon is a no-go with strong cross-on wind and choppy conditions. For a point break like Cowries, that long period will likely produce some nice lines, but the wind is the enemy.

We then hit a real flat spell. Monday the 3rd drops right off, with tiny 3ft surf and poor conditions. From Tuesday the 4th through to about Wednesday the 5th morning, it’s almost completely flat, with swells under 1.0ft. That’s a gap of a couple of days with nothing worth paddling out for.

Things start to build again on Wednesday the 5th afternoon. A 4ft south swell with clean offshore wind from the west. The energy is moderate (290). It’s a nice, gentle offshore, so it’ll be clean. Thursday the 6th morning is even better, with a 5ft south swell, light offshore wind, and moderate energy (444). That’s a solid morning session.

The second week gets a bit more complicated. Friday the 7th morning has a glassy 5ft SSE swell, but the period is short at 8 seconds. Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th are small, glassy mornings, but the swells are tiny – 3ft. The real interesting bit comes from Tuesday the 11th onwards. Tuesday morning has a 5ft south swell with a clean cross-off wind, moderate energy (434). Tuesday afternoon is better with a 6ft south swell, a 10-second period, and strong energy (691). That Tuesday afternoon looks like another solid window.

Then there’s a shift. Wednesday the 12th morning has a 3ft swell from the east with a very long 12-second period, but the wind is cross-off. The energy is high (441). That long period, east swell at a point break like Cowries? That could be very, very good if the direction lines up. Thursday the 13th morning has a 3ft east swell, also 12 seconds, with clean offshore wind. The energy is moderate (299). Thursday afternoon is a 3ft SSW swell, clean offshore, moderate energy (366). Friday the 14th morning has a 4ft SSE swell with moderate offshore wind and moderate energy (293). The afternoon has a 4ft SSE swell with a fresh offshore breeze, moderate energy (347).

So, the two standouts? I’d say the first one is Friday the 31st of July afternoon at Cowries. That 7ft south swell with a cross-off breeze and strong energy is going to be proper fun. The second is Tuesday the 11th of August afternoon – that 6ft south swell with a 10-second period and clean conditions is a solid bet for the second week. Just keep an eye on the wind, as a few of those later sessions have a strong offshore breeze, which can make it a bit tricky to get into position.

Stay safe, and get amongst it.

Rusty

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