Farol Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s get straight into it.

Look, I’ve gotta be honest with you – the next sixteen days are a total bust for decent waves around here. Not a single, decent window to paddle out. We’re lookin’ at a big ol’ gap right from the start, and it just keeps going. So if you’re itchin’ to paddle, you might be better off takin’ the dog for a walk or cleanin’ the garage, because the surf just isn’t gonna cooperate.

The first sniff of swell comes on Tuesday, 11th of August, over at Farol. You’re lookin’ at small, messy waves – around 3ft to 3ft – but the wind is all wrong. It’s a cross-on breeze at 12 mph, sometimes swingin’ onshore, and the swell’s comin’ from the NE, which isn’t the direction this place loves. The period is short, around 4 to 6 seconds, so those waves will be weak and crumblin’. Combined swell energy’s only around 61, so it’s weak. We’re talkin’ poor surf conditions, choppy and messy.

Wednesday the 12th doesn’t improve a bit. Still small (2ft to 3ft), still NE swell, still cross-shore or onshore wind. Energy drops to 46. Don’t bother.

Thursday the 13th through to the end of the week and into the second week, the story’s the same. Swell bumps up a touch – by Saturday 15th we’re seeing 5ft to 5ft – and combined energy climbs into the moderate range (155 to 196). But the wind is relentless: either a cross-on breeze from the E or ESE at 9 to 15 mph, or a funnelin’ onshore NE wind at 15 to 19 mph. The period stays short at 5 to 7 seconds, so there’s no grunt behind it. The wave comment across every single entry is “poor surf conditions.” Even the mornings that feel like they might be glassy turn out to be choppy.

From the middle of the second week, around the 22nd of August, swell starts pushin’ over 5ft and energy hits 200 or more. On Sunday the 23rd, the morning energy peaks at 223. But it doesn’t matter – the wind is still cross-on or onshore, and the surf conditions are still poor. That kind of set-up, with onshore breezes and those short-period wind swell lines, just isn’t gonna produce anything worth paddling for.

For water temps, it’s about average for this time of year, so nothin’ unusual there.

Honestly, this whole forecast is a write-off for surfing. If you’re lookin’ for somethin’ to do on a windy day and you don’t mind the chop, this set-up looks way more interesting for kite surfing than for takin’ a surfboard out. The combined swell energy gets into the moderate range sometimes, but with the wind and short period, it’s just messy.

Forecasts can always change, but for now, I’d say sit this one out. You’re not missin’ a thing.

Rusty.

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