Hennemans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it. This is Rusty, and here's what's cooking for the Hennemans region.

We've got a bit of a wait on our hands, folks. The surf window opens up on Sunday the 26th of July, but it's a bit of a tease. The forecast shows a 3ft southwest swell rolling in with a very long period of 19 seconds, which is proper groundswell energy. The combined swell energy is a moderate 840. The water is 74°, which is a whopping 7° warmer than normal for this time of year – that's very unusual, and it's going to feel like a tropical bath out there. The wind is light and offshore from the southwest, so it should be glassy. But here's the kicker – the guidance is calling it "marginal" and the score is low. It's inconsistent here, and that long period on a reef break like Hennemans can sometimes make it a bit tricky, but when it's on, it could be a ripper. This is the best on offer, but it's a gamble.

Monday the 27th of July sees a similar story. The swell holds at 4ft from the southwest, with a long 18-second period. The combined energy jumps to a strong 1001. Wind is still offshore from the SSW, so it's clean. Still, the forecast is calling it marginal. Tuesday the 28th of July, we're looking at 4ft from the southwest, 17-second period, with a strong 1042 energy reading. Again, offshore wind, but the forecast quality is still questionable. Wednesday the 29th of July drops off a touch, with 4ft swell and 16-second period, wind still offshore in the morning, but turning cross-onshore in the afternoon. That's when the chop starts to creep in.

Thursday the 30th of July picks up to 5ft from the SSW, but the period drops to 14 seconds. The wind is light and cross-onshore, so it's not going to be perfect. Friday the 31st of July is a write-off – the wind picks up to 12 mph from the WNW, creating a choppy mess. From the 1st of August, it's a slow downhill slide. The swell drops, the periods shorten, and the wind stays cross-onshore or onshore, and the "poor surf conditions" tag starts to stick. By the 2nd of August, the swell is under 3ft, and it's just not worth paddling out.

There's a long gap from the 2nd of August right through to the end of the forecast on the 10th of August, with swell sizes bottoming out at 1ft to 3ft and energy readings dropping to weak levels. The wind is a mix of onshore and cross-onshore, and the combined energy is in the low hundreds. It's a flat spell, plain and simple. For a spot that's already inconsistent, this is a pretty normal blank run. If you're desperate, you could look at the 7th of August, which has a very long period 21-second swell, but at only 1ft, it's not going to do much. The setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer toward the end.

So, your best bet is the opening weekend, Sunday the 26th of July, at Hennemans. It's not a guaranteed standout, but it's the only window with half a chance. The warm water is a bonus, but don't expect a classic.

Rusty.

Read more