Hennemans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

We’ve got a drawn-out run of action on the cards at Hennemans, but it’s not screaming epic. The first solid window kicks off Tuesday morning, August 25th, with a clean 2ft swell from the SW pumping in at a very long 16 seconds. The water is sitting at a balmy 73°, which is a solid 5° warmer than usual for this time of year – a real treat for the skin. The combined energy is moderate (407), but the wind is a light cross-onshore, keeping things a little bumpy. It’s rideable, but the tide might be a bully.

The build comes through Wednesday morning, August 26th, with the swell lifting to 4ft from the SSW and a 12-second period. The energy bumps up to 718 (moderate), and the wind swings onshore, so it’s a bit messy. The afternoon sees a 4ft S swell (620 energy) with a lighter breeze, but still onshore. The potential is there, but it’s not a day for perfection.

Thursday, August 27th, sees it drop back to 3ft – 3ft from the SSW/S with light onshore wind. The energy is moderate (409-391), but the conditions are described as poor. Same story for Friday, August 28th, with a 2ft SW swell, but the wind turns cross-shore. The energy is lower (361-266), and the wave state is crossed-up. It’s a bit of a grind.

The weekend brings a slight uptick. Saturday, August 29th, has a 3ft to 4ft SW swell with a 16-second period, pushing the energy up to 543 to 748 (moderate). The wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s a little choppy but not terrible. Sunday, August 30th, sees a 3ft SW swell (15 seconds, 569 energy) with light onshore wind. The best of the weekend looks like Saturday afternoon, but it’s a marginal call.

The first week of September is a bit of a flat run. The swell drops to 2ft to 3ft, with mostly poor to marginal conditions. The setup is a bit too small and messy for a solid paddle. There’s a stretch from Monday, August 31st, through to Wednesday, September 2nd, where the surf is either poor or tiny. The standout during this lean period is hard to find.

The best true standouts in this 16-day window are actually the two days around the end of the first week and start of the second. Friday, September 4th, has a 3ft to 4ft SW swell with a 17 to 16-second period, and the combined energy is a solid 668 to 699 (moderate). The wind is light, and the afternoon has a light cross-onshore, but the swell has a real pulse. This is the best quality on offer. Saturday, September 5th, is similar, with a 4ft SW swell (16 seconds, 631 energy), but the wind is a bit stronger cross-onshore, so it’s a little choppier. The energy is consistent, but it’s not clean.

The long-period nature of this swell (15-19 seconds) means it’s a true groundswell, which will be a bit too straight for a beach break. At a reef like Hennemans, it’s a better fit, but it’s inconsistent, so don’t expect a party. The crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might have some company, but it’s not a zoo.

The second week holds a few sessions that are worth a look but nothing to plan a trip around. The energy is lower, and the wind is more of a problem. It’s a real “wait and see” situation.

Rusty.

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