Freshwater east Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Rusty here, lookin' at the charts for Freshwater East. I gotta be straight with you – this stretch of the next 16 days is a tough one for us paddlers. The waves are just not showing up with any real grunt or consistency for a good surf. For a spot that's a beach and reef setup that's very sheltered, it's a classic case of location not lining up with the swell we need. We're in for a long, quiet stretch.

Let's break it down. The first almost two weeks are a write-off. From Friday, the 7th, all the way through to Tuesday, the 18th, the swell is tiny – mostly below 0.5 ft, coming from the SW or WSW, but it's just not enough to get anything going. The energy is weak, barely registering above 20 (combined energy of all swells directed here). The wind is all over the place, too. We get a bit of offshore breeze on Sunday the 9th, but with a swell of only 0.3 ft, it's a lake out there, not a surf spot. Even when the wind goes glassy on the 16th, it's on a 0.7 ft swell. There's just nothing to ride.

Now, things do change a bit in the second week. The swell finally starts to show some size, but it comes with a big caveat. On Wednesday, the 19th of August, the swell bumps up to 5 ft from the WSW, with a period of 7 seconds. The energy jumps to 271 (combined energy of all swells directed here). That's a proper amount of water moving, but the short period means it's going to be a bit disorganized. The wind is cross-off from the NNW, so the surface might be clean, but the waves are going to be a bit of a lumpy mess. It's still not a standout, but it's the most we've seen in days.

The best of the lot, and the only one I'd call a true standout, is Thursday the 20th, in the afternoon. The swell is a clean 3 ft from the WSW, with an 8-second period, and the wind swings to a light offshore from the WNW. That's a recipe for clean, rideable waves at Freshwater East. The energy is 146 (combined energy of all swells directed here), which is moderate and solid enough to have some fun. Given the break is "rarely breaks," it's a bit of a special moment when it does. It's a beginner-friendly break, and with a 3 ft swell, it's perfect for anyone. The water is sitting at 64°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so the boardies are the call.

I wouldn't bother with the rest of the week. The swell drops off again, and the wind gets onshore or strong. For a spot that's usually a no-show, this is a pretty normal blank run. It doesn't tend to stay poor for long, but this time, it's a long wait for that one window on the 20th.

Rusty.

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