Hammonds Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks.

To be honest, it’s a pretty bleak stretch of days ahead. We’re looking at a long dry spell with no real surf on offer until the first week of September starts to hint at something. From now until the end of August, the conditions are just not playing ball with poor surf quality dominating the forecast. The only break on the radar is Hammonds Reef, a sheltered reef setup for advanced surfers only. Even then, the swell is tiny and the wind is never quite right.

The first real chance of anything surfable doesn’t roll around until Thursday, September 3rd, and even then it’s only marginal. The morning will see a bit of life with a 3ft swell from the SSW, carrying a moderate combined energy of about 406, but the wind is cross-on and light, so expect some bump. The period is a middling 13 seconds, so it’s not a groundswell that’s going to reel off perfectly. The afternoon holds similar with 3ft and the same cross-on breeze. It’s not a total write-off, but it’s far from firing.

The water temperature is very unusual for this time of year, sitting at 71°F, which is a massive 8°F warmer than normal. That’s a real standout for the area.

As we push into Friday, September 4th, the swell is still small at 2ft from the SSW, but the period jumps to 17 seconds, which is a very long period groundswell. That’s the kind of energy that can wrap around points and reefs, but at this size, it’s going to be fat and slow. The combined energy is still moderate at 491. Still cross-on breezes. Just a marginal session for the patient.

Saturday, September 5th is more of the same: 3ft, 16-second period, cross-on wind. The energy stays moderate at 415 in the morning. It’s surfable if you’re desperate, but nothing to write home about.

Now, the one true standout in this whole 16-day window is the morning of Friday, September 11th. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, with a light breeze from the SSE at 3 mph. The swell is only 2ft, but it’s coming from the SW with a 16-second period, a solid groundswell. The combined energy is 161, which is weak. But that glassy surface will make even a small wave look like a work of art. It’s a rare moment of clean conditions for Hammonds Reef. The afternoon is also glassy, with a 15-second period. This is the best you’ll get, and it’s still small. For a sheltered reef, those long-period swells can sometimes produce a surprising little wedge, but don’t expect barrels.

Outside of that one glassy morning, the rest of the second week is plagued by poor surf conditions and light cross-on winds. The swell never really gets above 3ft, and the energy dips into the low hundreds. The period stays long, often 15 seconds or more, which is good for shape but not for size.

Honestly, for the next two weeks, Hammonds Reef is your only option, and it’s a slim one. The setup could be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on many of those days, given the cross-on breezes and small swell. Keep your expectations low, and maybe that Friday the 11th glass-off will be a pleasant surprise.

Rusty.

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