Freights Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, looking at the next 16 days for the only spot on the table.

Alright, we gotta be straight with you. For the next couple of weeks, it’s looking pretty bleak around here. We’re looking at a long stretch of nothing special. The first real sniff of surfable waves doesn't even show up until Monday the 14th afternoon, so you’ve got a dry spell of a few days right off the bat. And even then, it’s not going to be pumping.

Freights is a point break that rarely breaks, so this flat spell is actually pretty normal for the area. It’s a beginner-friendly wave when it’s on, but it’s inconsistent as they come. Conditions are right for it to work – exposed to the swell and needing an east-southeast direction – but the ocean just isn't delivering the goods.

From Friday the 11th right through Sunday the 13th, it’s all “marginal” at best. The swell is hanging around 5 ft to 6 ft, coming from the east-northeast with a short period of just 7 to 8 seconds, so it’s weak, windblown junk. The wind is offshore, so it’s clean, but the raw energy is weak with a combined energy reading of 375, dropping to 309. It’s a tough paddle for not much reward.

Then we finally get a slight improvement. Monday afternoon, September 14th is the first time the score ticks up. Swell drops to 4 ft from the east-northeast, period a woeful 6 seconds, but the wind is offshore and moderate. The combined energy (244) is still low. It’s surfable, but you’ll be working for it. This holds into Tuesday morning, September 15th, with the swell dropping to 3 ft from the east-northeast and a 7-second period. The water is warm at 85°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a steamer.

The real highlight, if you can call it that, is Friday, September 18th. The morning looks alright with 5 ft swell from the east and a short 7-second period. The wind is light offshore at 12 mph, keeping things clean. Combined energy is still modest at 223. It’s not a standout by any means, but it’s the best we’ve got in this whole window. The afternoon is similar, with 4 ft swell.

After that, it tails off fast. From Saturday the 19th, the swell drops below 3 ft and the standard of surf drops with it. There’s a few afternoons with “poor surf conditions” scoring zeros, and a couple of mornings with “surfable but ordinary” conditions. The period stays short, mostly 8 seconds or less, with combined energy readings dropping into the 100s and even as low as 28 towards the end. The wind stays mostly offshore or cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but there’s just no push in the water.

For dry spells like this, take it easy. Forecasts change, but right now, there’s no day I’d be setting an alarm for.

Rusty.

Read more