Drakes Estero Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what we've got coming down the pike for Drakes Estero. It's a bit of a mixed bag, but there are some windows worth paddling out for.

The first proper surfable window doesn't really kick in until Wednesday afternoon, the 12th of August. Before that, it’s a write-off with onshore winds and poor conditions. From Wednesday arvo onwards, things start to look a whole lot more promising. The overall pattern is one of clean, glassy conditions with a long-period groundswell that will really suit this spot, but the size is going to be on the smaller side for most of it.

The standout window is the 16th, Sunday morning. We’ve got a 3.3ft swell rolling in from the SW with a 16-second period. That’s proper groundswell, with a combined energy of 565 (moderate wave energy). The wind is a light, cross-offshore breeze from the WNW, which will keep the surface buttery smooth. It’s not huge, but it’s clean, lined up, and will have some real push. Drakes Estero is a beach/river-mouth setup, so that long period can make it a bit walled up at times, but with the light wind and tidy size, it’s the best on offer.

Following that, Monday the 17th morning is also a solid choice. It’s a bit smaller at 3.0ft, but the swell is still from the SSW with a 14-second period, and again, light cross-offshore wind. The energy is a notch lower at 422 (moderate wave energy), but it’s clean and consistent.

Later in the window, the 22nd of August, Saturday morning, brings a bit of a different swell. We’re looking at a 3.0ft swell from the WNW with a 10-second period. The combined energy is 332 (moderate wave energy). The wind is light and cross-offshore again, so it’ll be clean. It’s a shorter period swell, so it won’t have the same grunt as the 16-second stuff, but it’s a fun size and the conditions will be good. The water temperature is sitting at 58.6°F, which is about 0.9°F above the norm, so nothing unusual for the time of year.

Keep in mind, Drakes Estero can get crowded sometimes, and it’s a fairly consistent spot, so especially on the better days you might have some company. For the real big energy days later on, like the 25th and 26th, the swell is over 5.0ft and the wind is hitting 25 mph, making it a howling, choppy mess. That’s kite-surfing territory, not for a paddle.

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