Fingal Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's get into it.

It’s shaping up to be a real mixed bag for Fingal Bay over the next couple of weeks. We’ve got some decent pulses of south swell on the horizon, but the wind is going to be the main character in this story, and it’s not always going to be a friendly one. The water temperature is sitting around 64°, which is a touch cooler than normal for this time of year, but nothing too wild.

For the first week, it’s a bit of a struggle. Sunday morning (23rd August) kicks off with a 4ft south swell at 11 seconds, but that cross-shore wind from the ESE at 12 mph is going to chop it up – not a pretty picture. The combined energy is moderate (443). We’ve got a few afternoons and mornings with cleaner conditions as the wind goes cross-offshore, but the swell is small and inconsistent. Monday morning (24th August) sees a clean 3ft south swell with a light offshore breeze, but 3ft is pretty marginal. The real problem is the wind is all over the place, and for most of the week, the swell is just too small and weak to get excited about.

We’ve got a significant gap in the middle of the week. From Wednesday (26th August) right through to Saturday morning (29th), the surf is mostly poor to marginal. The best bet in this first week is actually Saturday, the 29th of August. Both the morning and afternoon are looking clean with light winds. The morning has a 4ft south-southeast swell (384 energy) and a light cross-offshore breeze, and the afternoon is even better with a 4ft south swell (482 energy) and near-glass. That’s the standout for the first week.

Now, the real standout is lurking further out. Monday, the 31st of August is the one to circle on the calendar. The morning is looking excellent. We’re talking a solid 6ft south swell with a 12-second period, building to 6ft in the afternoon. The combined energy is strong, hitting 1360 in the morning and 1048 in the afternoon. The wind is light and cross-offshore. This is for experienced surfers – that 6ft to 6ft swell is too big for beginners. It’s a proper groundswell, so it’ll have some punch, and the longer period (12-13 seconds) means better shaped waves. It’s a point and beach setup, so keep an eye on the tide. This is the best on offer.

After that, the swell drops back down. Tuesday (1st September) is still surfable but smaller, and then from Wednesday (2nd September) onwards, we’re back to tiny, weak waves with poor conditions. The energy drops right off, dipping below 100 for several days. There’s a long stretch of poor surf from the 2nd of September right through to the 7th of September. The 7th of September (Monday morning) is glassy, but the swell is only 1ft, so there’s simply nothing to ride.

So, to sum it up: If you’re after a wave this week, Saturday the 29th of August is your best bet. But the real prize is Monday the 31st of August – that’s the big one, but it’s for the experienced crew. After that, we’re looking at a long, flat spell.

Rusty.

Read more