Hennemans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a coffee and sit down, ’cause I’ve had a proper look at Hennemans for the next 16 days, and honestly, it’s a bit of a waiting game. There’s surf on the cards, but for the most part, it’s gonna be small and messy, so you’ll need to be patient and pick your moments.

We start off pretty flat. The first week, from the 1st of August right through to around the 13th, is a write-off for any decent waves. We’re looking at tiny swell, mostly around 1ft to 2ft, and the wind is a constant issue – mostly cross-onshore or onshore, leaving the surface chopped up and lumpy. The swell energy is weak to moderate at best, with figures like 136 or 271 (moderate wave energy) in the mix, but it’s all just wind-slop. No standout windows here; it’s just poor conditions. The water temp is a notable 75°F – that’s a huge 7°F warmer than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be sweating in your wettie, but the waves won’t give you anything back.

Now, there’s a flicker of hope right at the end. Things start to change around the 14th of August. We finally see a jump in swell size. On Friday the 14th afternoon, we get a 2ft SW swell with a proper period of 18 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy, and the combined energy shoots up to 510 (strong wave energy). The wind is still cross-onshore, but it’s marginal, and the wave comment upgrades from “poor” to “marginal.” The real highlight looks to be Saturday the 15th of August. The swell bumps up to a solid 3ft from the SW, still with a 16-second period, and the energy is pumping at 569 (strong wave energy). More importantly, by the afternoon the wind swings to a cross-shore breeze, which will clean things up nicely. This is the best on offer for the whole outlook.

The only other halfway decent slot is Sunday the 16th morning, with a 3ft SW swell and clean cross-shore winds. But it’s a drop-off from the day before.

So, for the standout: Hennemans on Saturday the 15th of August afternoon. You’ll get chest-to-shoulder-high, long-period groundswell (3ft at 16 seconds). That long period is classic for a reef break like this – it’ll hold up and give you some proper shape. The cross-shore wind will keep it glassy and clean. Just be aware this little reef can be a bit inconsistent, and crowds are sometimes a thing here, so don’t expect to have it to yourself. It’s best for intermediate surfers; that 3ft is fine, not too big.

For the rest of the period, the first 13 days are a total dud. There’s nothing worth paddling out for. The second week’s surf is just a tease. Keep an eye on the forecasts, though – it tends not to stay this quiet forever.

Rusty

Read more