Mainside Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey, it's Rusty. Let’s size it up. Mainside is looking pretty quiet for a long stretch, and the first week and a half is mostly a bust. You’ll be waiting until late August for anything worth paddling out for.

Starting Wednesday the 19th, we’ve got a small 4ft east swell with a short 7-second period. Wind is offshore, but the wave energy is weak (152) and the surf quality is poor. That’s the pattern for a while. From the 20th through the 25th, it’s nearly flat or tiny waves with zero energy recorded. Even when a little 5ft pulse shows on the 25th afternoon, the energy is only moderate (186) and conditions are still poor. Strong offshore winds don’t help when there’s nothing to ride.

Then things get heavy but ugly. The 26th and 27th have huge energy readings in the thousands, with swell heights up to 8ft from the east and north-northwest. But the wind turns into a gale and storm force cross-onshore, totally blowing everything out. That looks like a kite-surfing chaos, not a paddle session. The 28th and 29th are still big with strong onshore winds and lumpy conditions, so no thanks.

Now for the highlight. Sunday the 30th of August is what you’re waiting for. The morning brings a clean 6ft swell from the west-northwest with a 10-second period – that’s proper groundswell with solid energy (665). The wind goes glassy, and the report says “expect very good surf conditions.” The afternoon stays clean with a 5ft swell and light cross-off breezes. This is your window at Mainside. Water temp is a warm 83°F, about average for the time of year.

After that, it drops off into small, choppy waves from the 31st into September. There’s a small glimmer on September 2nd with a gentle offshore breeze and a 3ft east swell with a long 11-second period, giving you surfable but very ordinary waves. Energy is moderate (149). The afternoon goes glassy but still small.

So the bottom line is this: a long dry spell until Sunday the 30th of August. That’s your best bet, and it’s a good one – glassy conditions with a solid groundswell. Everything else is either flat or blown out.

Rusty.

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