Hideaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on offer at Hideaway.

Alright, first things first. Hideaway is a reef break that rarely breaks, so when it does, it’s a special little event. For the next 16 days, we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag, but the standout window is actually the first week of August. The overall pattern shows a pulse of energy coming through, but the wind is going to be the main character for a lot of it.

We kick things off on Thursday, August 6th, with a solid 5 ft SSW groundswell. The period is a long 16 seconds, so there’s plenty of energy in the water. The combined swell energy is 1746 (moderate to strong). But, the wind is an ESE cross-shore at 19 mph, which is going to make the surface lumpy. It’s a bit of a tease – the power is there, but the quality is going to be compromised. The morning is the better of the two sessions, but it’s still a marginal call.

Friday, August 7th, the swell jumps up to 7 ft from the SSE, but the period drops to 10 seconds. That’s a shorter, less organized swell. The wind is still a fresh cross-shore from the ESE at 22 mph, which is going to create a messy, choppy surface. The energy is there (1419 in the morning), but the conditions are going to be poor. This one is for the die-hards only.

Now, Saturday, August 8th, is a bit more interesting. The swell is 8 ft from the ESE, but the period is a short 8 seconds. That’s a lot of water moving, but it’s going to be a bit of a washing machine. The wind shifts to a cross-offshore from the E at 19 mph, which will clean it up a bit. The combined energy is 1612, so it’s got some punch. This is getting into that zone where it’s only for experienced surfers, and the short period might make it a bit walled up. But it’s cleaner than the previous days.

Sunday, August 9th, the swell drops back to 5 ft to 7 ft, but the period is still short. The wind is a moderate cross-offshore, so the surface is clean. The morning is smaller, the afternoon has more size. It’s a marginal day, but the clean conditions are a plus.

Monday, August 10th, the swell drops right off to 3 ft to 3 ft, but the period jumps back to 15-16 seconds. That’s a long period groundswell, which means it’s going to be very clean and lined up, but there won’t be much to ride. The combined energy is 718 in the morning, so it’s weak. A good day for a longboard or a paddle if you’re not fussed about big waves.

The real standout, the one I’d be circling on the calendar, is Wednesday, August 12th. The morning session has a 5 ft ESE swell with a 9-second period. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the ENE at 6 mph. The combined energy is 609 (moderate), and the forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is the cleanest, most user-friendly window in the whole run. The wave state is described as “clean.” For a break that rarely breaks, this is a gem.

After that, things get small again. The rest of the week and into the next week has some small, long-period swells from the SW and SSW, but the size is mostly under 3 ft. The wind looks better on some days, like Thursday, August 13th, with a glassy morning (2 ft SW, 19-second period, light offshore wind) and Friday, August 14th, with a completely glassy afternoon (2 ft SW, 13-second period, no wind). These are beautiful, clean conditions, but the waves are tiny. A good day for a cruise, not a barrel.

By Saturday, August 15th, a new, short-period E swell comes in at 6 ft, but the wind is onshore from the SSW, so it’s going to be a messy, blown-out mess. Not worth it.

The final week, starting August 17th, there’s a bit more consistent energy from the SSW and SW, with 4 ft to 5 ft swells and long periods (17-19 seconds). The wind is mostly cross-shore, so the surface won’t be perfect, but it’s rideable. The combined energy is in the 1000-1500 range, so there’s some moderate power. But it’s not the standout of the first week.

So, the best bet for a real surf is Wednesday, August 12th morning. It’s the cleanest, most welcoming the break is going to be. If you can’t make that, the glassy days on August 13th and 14th are a close second for a quiet, small-wave session. Just remember, Hideaway is a “rarely breaks” spot, so treat it with respect.

Rusty.

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