Fernald Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s get real about this forecast. I’ve got to be straight with you: the next 16 days are a tough stretch for paddle surfing at Fernald Point. This point break rarely breaks as it is, and for the entire outlook period, the wave conditions are consistently rated as poor. There’s surf, but it’s not what you’d want to paddle out for.

The overall pattern shows a persistent, small, and often weak south-west swell all the way through to 20 August. The swell heights stay tiny, mostly 1.0ft to 1ft, bumping up to just 2ft by the 15th. The combined swell energy is weak at the start, with a reading of 55, climbing to a moderate 255 by the 15th, but this energy is never enough to create quality waves. The period is generally long, often 14 to 19 seconds, which is typical for a groundswell, but at this size, those long gaps between sets mean you’ll spend more time waiting than riding.

The winds are a problem too. It’s cross-onshore for most of the forecast, with a few mornings having light onshore breezes. Even the lightest winds create small ripples and chop, not the clean, glassy conditions you’re after. There’s a bit of a shift around the 15th and 16th of August, where the swell picks up to 2ft–2ft and the energy hits 204–255, but it’s still cross-onshore and the wave comment is “poor surf conditions.” The slight uptick in size isn’t enough to overcome the dirty wind.

Given the consistent small size, the persistent cross-onshore wind, and the fact that this break rarely breaks, the setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer. There’s never a standout window here. The poor surf conditions don’t change, and the crowd is often present, so you’d be fighting for scraps. Honestly, it’s a blank run for the entire 16 days.

Signing off, Rusty.

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