Horace Caldwell Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, let’s get real. I’ve been staring at the charts for the next couple of weeks, and I gotta tell you, it’s a tough one. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with hardly anything to get excited about. The whole 16-day window is pretty much a bust for surf, with no real standouts.

First up, we’ve got Horace Caldwell Pier. This is a beach/pier setup that’s fairly exposed to the swell, and it normally likes a swell from the SE. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing weird there.

The first few days, from Thursday, September 3rd right through to the 10th, are a total write-off. We’re talking tiny, short-period windswell from the SSE and SE, with heights barely cracking 2 ft, and periods of only 4 to 5 seconds. The combined swell energy is weak, sitting in the single digits to low 20s (9 to 23). The wind is a mess, too—mostly cross-onshore or onshore, and it’s often choppy. It’s just poor surf conditions, day after day.

Then, from Friday, September 11th, things try to pick up a little. The swell height bumps up to 4 ft, and the period sticks at 5 to 6 seconds. The combined energy gets into the moderate range, with values around 64 to 67 on the 11th, and then climbing up to 152 by the morning of Sunday, September 13th. That’s the most energy we see all forecast. But here’s the kicker—the wind stays onshore, blowing from the SSE or SE at 15 to 25 km/h, and the wave comment is still “poor surf conditions.” The swell is short-period, so it’s not going to have any real shape. With the swell hitting 4 ft to 5 ft, it’s getting into a size that’s a bit much for beginners, but with the wind ruining it, it’s not really for anyone.

After that little spike, we fade back down to 4 ft on the 14th and 15th, with the energy dropping back to two-digit numbers (90 to 62). The wind stays onshore, and the quality is still poor. By the time we get to Thursday, September 17th, we’re back to 3 ft swell with cross-onshore wind and a choppy sea state.

Honestly, mate, there’s nothing here. It’s a 16-day stretch of poor surf. For a spot like this, a blank run is pretty normal when the wind is stubborn. The only thing that might be interesting is if the wind picks up strong enough for a kite session, because the wind is consistent and onshore, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a no-go.

Rusty.

Read more