FA's Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty comin' at ya from the beach. Let's get straight into it.

First up, I gotta be honest with you – the outlook for the next 16 days at FA's is a bit of a bummer. We're looking at a long, dry spell with hardly any wave action worth paddling for. The forecast shows a whole lot of nothing for the first couple of weeks, with day after day of poor surf conditions. It's not until Tuesday the 15th of September that we finally see a glimmer of hope, but even then it's a real small affair.

The water at FA's is sitting at 81°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, but nothing too crazy.

So, for the bulk of the forecast, we're talking about a blank run. From Thursday the 3rd right through to Monday the 14th, the surf is just not there. The swell is tiny, often under 2ft, and the winds are a mess – mostly onshore or cross-onshore, chopping everything up. The combined wave energy is weak, barely cracking 100 (133 or less for most of it). You'll be spending more time sitting on your board than riding waves.

There is one day that stands out, but it's a long way off. On Tuesday the 15th of September, we get a tiny window. The morning shows a little 2ft swell from the ESE with a period of 8 seconds. The key thing here is the wind goes glassy – dead calm. That makes for clean, smooth conditions. The wave comment says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions", and I'd agree. It's not going to be a world-beater, but for a place that's been flat for weeks, it's the best we've got. The energy is still weak at 57 (combined energy), so don't expect any power.

Because the swell is so small and the period is short, it's fine for beginners. The crowds are often a thing at FA's, so you might have some company. The break is fairly consistent, but with this little swell, it'll be a real grovel.

For the rest of the forecast, the setup is a beach and reef, but with the poor surf quality and strong winds on many days, it honestly looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The winds are often cross-onshore, which is not ideal for us.

So, in short: don't hold your breath. The only real chance for a paddle is that Tuesday morning, the 15th, and even then, keep your expectations in check. It's a long range call, so don't bank on it.

Rusty.

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