Freshwater east Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it.

Honestly, the next couple of weeks look pretty bleak. Freshwater East is a very sheltered little spot, and it rarely breaks, so when the swell isn’t lining up, it’s dead. The first real session I can point you to doesn’t come until Saturday the 31st of August. That’s a few days of waiting.

The overall pattern is a series of small to moderate SW and WSW swells, but the wind is mostly messy—cross, cross-on, or strong—for the first week. The water is sitting at 66°F down there, which is a solid 5°F warmer than usual, so you’re looking at a notably warm blanket of water for this time of year.

Let’s start with Saturday the 31st of August. Monday the 31st of August morning actually shows the best conditions of the first week. You’ve got a clean 7ft swell from the WSW, period around 9 seconds, and a fresh offshore wind from the NW. The combined energy is solidly moderate at 739. That’s a fun size for the better surfers, clean faces, long wait between sets with that period. Monday afternoon stays similar with 6ft and a moderate offshore. That’s the standout of the first week—clean, offshore wind, and a decent pulse of energy.

After that, the first few days of September drop right off. Tuesday and Wednesday are tiny or blown out. Then Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th of September bring another clean window. Friday the 4th of September morning is a highlight: 6ft of WSW swell, 8 seconds, and a fresh offshore from the WNW. The energy is 492—moderate but solid. Friday afternoon holds at 7ft with clear skies and offshore wind. That is a great call for an afternoon sesh if you can get out of work.

Now, looking way ahead, there’s a big pulse of energy due Monday the 7th of September. That morning shows 7ft from the SSW, but only a 6-second period, so it’s a bit short and dumpy. But wait for Monday afternoon: 10ft from the SW with an 8-second period, a moderate offshore from the W, and the combined energy jumps to 1033—that’s strong energy, very strong for this spot. The commentary says “expect good surf conditions,” and that is the biggest, most powerful swell of the whole outlook. Stay sharp though: at 10ft, this is for experienced surfers only, and the period is short, so it’ll be pitching fast. Tuesday the 8th of September goes huge: 16ft to 18ft from the WSW with an 11-second period and combined energy over 6000 and 7000 respectively. That’s very strong, groundswell territory, and the period is long. That’s gonna be a massive, powerful, heaving wave, best left to experts. Could also be a solid kite-surfing day for those who want to get towed into it. The wind is fresh offshore from the WNW, so the faces will be clean, but that size in a sheltered, rarely-breaking spot… it’s going to be a spectacle.

The second week after that drops back to small, moderate swell with increasingly messy wind. The 11th and 12th of September are a write-off—strong cross and cross-on winds, lumpy chop, small swell.

So here’s the takeaway: the best on offer is Monday afternoon the 7th of September for the big, powerful but short-period 10ft swell with clean offshore wind. If that’s too big, Friday the 4th of September morning and afternoon is your best bet for a fun, manageable 6ft to 7ft clean session. Don’t bother before the 31st of August.

This is Rusty, signing off.

Read more