Inch Reefs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Inch Reefs over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week is a write-off. We’re looking at a long stretch of flat, weak, or just plain messy conditions. The first bit of hope doesn’t show up until Tuesday morning, the 25th of August, and even then it’s nothing to write home about. The water temp is sitting at 64°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need the thickest rubber.

The first real standout is that Tuesday morning session. We’ve got a small 4 ft swell rolling in from the west, with a period of 9 seconds. The wind is a light easterly, keeping it cross-off and clean. The combined energy is moderate (214), so it’s not gonna be a world-beater, but for a point break like Inch Reefs, a clean, lined-up wave is a welcome sight. The swell direction is from the west, which is a bit off the optimum southwest, but with the light wind and clean conditions, it’s the best option we’ve got in the near term. Expect some crowds though, as it is a sometimes-crowded spot.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. We get a bump of energy on the 30th and 31st of August, with swell heights around 4 ft to 5 ft and moderate energy (285 and 334), but the wind is either onshore or a messy cross-shore, making it a choppy, blown-out affair. That’s a no-go.

Now, the first week of September is where things get interesting, but it’s a double-edged sword. On the 1st of September (Tuesday afternoon), we see a 8 ft SSW swell with a short 7-second period. The wind is a fresh cross-shore, and the energy is strong (607). The conditions are lumpy, and with that short period, it’s going to be a bit of a washing machine. Not ideal for the paddle-out.

The real big stuff starts to show up on the 2nd of September. Wednesday morning has a 12 ft west swell, but it’s a write-off with a strong breeze (28 mph) creating a messy cross-chop. That afternoon, however, is a different story. The swell is still 12 ft from the WNW, but the wind swings to a fresh NNW breeze, giving us a cross-off and clean conditions. The energy is enormous (2062). This is a serious swell, only for the experts. It’s going to be big and powerful, and while the wind is favorable, the sheer size makes it a dangerous prospect for anyone but the most experienced.

The pattern continues into the 4th of September, with a 13 ft WSW swell on Friday. The morning has a moderate north wind, keeping it cross-off and clean. The energy is massive (2495). Again, this is expert territory. The wave quality will be there, but the size is the limiting factor.

We get a brief window of glassy conditions on the 5th of September (Saturday morning), but the swell is still a massive 13 ft from the west. The energy is off the charts (3876). It’s glassy, it’s clean, but it’s a beast. That afternoon, the swell drops off to nothing.

The 6th of September (Sunday) is a step down in size, with 7 ft and 6 ft west swells, but the wind is either cross-shore or cross-off, and the conditions are described as marginal. The energy is still strong (884 and 716), but it’s not the cleanest.

Then, on the 7th of September (Monday), we see the biggest swell of the entire forecast period. A 41 ft west swell with a 17-second period. The energy is astronomical (94277). This is a once-in-a-decade type event. The wind is a moderate cross-shore, creating a cross-chop. This is a survival session, not a surfing session. The period is so long that it’s going to be a very long wait between sets, and when they come, they’ll be freight trains. The “too big” flag is a massive understatement. It’s a definite no-go.

The 8th of September (Tuesday) is a bit of a comedown, with a 10 ft WSW swell, glassy conditions in the morning, and a long 11-second period. The energy is strong (1945). This is a much more manageable size for the experts, and the glassy conditions will make for some very clean, lined-up waves. The afternoon gets a bit of a cross-onshore wind, messing it up a bit.

So, the bottom line? For the next week, don’t bother. The real action is a long way out, from the 2nd of September onwards. The best bet for the experts is the morning of the 8th of September (Tuesday) – a 10 ft WSW swell, glassy, and a long period. It’s a promising call, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it. For everyone else, the 4 ft clean session on the 25th of August is your window. It’s small, but it’s surfable.

Rusty.

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