Hennemans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the coming weeks.

Honestly, mate, it’s a tough stretch ahead. The first real surf worth talking about doesn’t show up until Tuesday, July 21st, and even then it’s a bit of a scratchy affair. The whole 16-day window is a long, drawn-out run of marginal to poor conditions, with a few fleeting moments that might just get you wet.

We’re looking at Hennemans as the only spot on the menu. It’s a reef break, which is good for holding shape, but it’s inconsistent and can be a bit of a tease. The water is a balmy 73°F with a 5°F anomaly – that’s *much* warmer than usual for this time of year, so you can leave the thick steamer at home.

The first decent chance comes on Tuesday, July 21st morning. A 4ft SW swell, with a long 16 second period, pushing in. The combined swell energy is moderate at 629. The wind is a light cross-onshore from the WSW at 6 mph, which is just about manageable. The set-up is best for a reef, given that long period, it’ll wrap in nicely. It’s not a standout, but it’s the first real chance in the window.

The next day, Wednesday the 22nd, the swell drops to 3ft and the wind picks up to a moderate cross-shore from the WNW at 12 mph. That’s going to chop it up. Not great.

Thursday the 23rd sees a similar story – 4ft SSW swell in the morning, but the wind is still a light cross-onshore. The energy is moderate (514). It’s still a “maybe” session.

Now, here’s the one that gets my attention. Friday, July 24th morning. The wind goes glassy, light offshore from the SW at 6 mph. The swell is only 2ft, but the period is a massive 24 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. The combined energy jumps to 823 (moderate). For a reef break like Hennemans, that long period is a dream – it will unload with real power and shape. It’s a small wave, but it’ll be absolutely clean. That’s the best on offer in the first week. The light offshore wind is the key. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.

Saturday the 25th holds similar 3ft SW swell with that long 21 second period, but the wind is onshore. Still, the energy is 787. It’s worth a look if you’re desperate.

Sunday the 26th pushes 3ft SW swell at 19 seconds, with light offshore wind in the morning. The energy is a strong 929. That’s another solid contender, but still not a standout, just a nice clean session.

The second week gets messy. Monday the 27th through to Wednesday the 29th is a mix of 4ft to 4ft swells, but the wind is a persistent cross-onshore, creating chop. The energy is high (over 1000 on Tuesday 28th morning), but the quality is poor. It’s more of a kite session if you’re into that.

The last true highlight is Friday, July 31st morning. A 5ft SSW swell at 14 seconds, with a light offshore wind from the WSW at 6 mph. The energy is 910 (moderate to strong). This is the biggest swell of the entire window, and with offshore wind, it’s your best shot for a proper wave. It’s still only 5ft, so it’s not a bomb, but it’s the closest we get to a good day. Keep in mind, the swell direction is SSW, which is a bit off the optimum W for Hennemans, but it’ll still work.

After that, from Saturday, August 1st, it all fades. Swell drops to 3ft and under, periods get shorter, and the wind stays messy. The energy dips into the 200s and 300s. It’s a dead end for the rest of the window.

So, to sum it up: the first week has a couple of clean, small windows with that incredible long-period groundswell, but the quality is never high. The absolute best bet is Friday, July 24th morning for the glassy offshore and 24 second period, and Friday, July 31st morning for the biggest swell with offshore wind. Everything else is a gamble. It’s a lean run, but it’s not all bad. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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