Fortunes Rocks Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on offer at Fortunes Rocks Beach (Maine) over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, it's a pretty lean run. This exposed sandbar needs a good combo of swell and wind, and for most of the outlook, the wind is blowing onshore or cross-onshore, messing things up. We've got a long stretch of poor conditions, but there are a couple of brief windows where it might be worth a paddle.

The water temperature is sitting near the long-term average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there. Don't expect a winter wetsuit just yet.

The first real chance to get wet comes on Saturday, 29 August. Early morning has clear skies and glassy conditions with an ENE breeze at 3 mph. That's a major positive – clean, smooth water. Swell is small, 2 ft from the SE with a short period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy is weak at 64. It's surfable but very ordinary. Worth a look for a gentle session with no one hassling you, but it's not going to be epic. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, but on a small morning like this, you'll likely have the place to yourself.

After that, the forecast turns bleak. From Saturday afternoon right through to the first week of September, the wind shifts mainly onshore or cross-onshore, and swell stays tiny – 1 ft to 2 ft. There are a few glassy periods in there, like Monday morning, 31 August, but the swell is barely 1 ft with a combined energy of just 16. Not worth paddling out for.

A slightly more interesting window pops up on Wednesday afternoon, 2 September. The swell bumps up to 2 ft from the SE with a period of 11 seconds, giving a moderate combined energy of 153. The wind is cross-offshore from the NE at 9 mph, so the surface will be clean. Still, it's very ordinary and the waves are small. The longer period does mean more energy and longer waits between sets, which could make for a few better-shaped runners for an intermediate.

The next real chance doesn't come until Thursday, 10 September. Thursday morning looks clear with glassy conditions and a light N breeze at 3 mph. Swell is 3 ft from the E with a period of 6 seconds, and combined energy of 68. That short period means the waves will be a bit soft and weak, but the clean surface will make it rideable. It's surfable but very ordinary again.

Overall, if you're desperate, the best bets are the glassy mornings on 29 August or 10 September. Don't get your hopes up. This area tends to shut down when the wind is wrong, and right now, the patterns are stubborn. Forecasts can change, but as it stands, we're in for a long flat spell between those brief windows.

Rusty.

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