Mainside Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – for a place called Mainside (reef break), the next week or so is a bit of a flat spell. Don’t get too down about it, though; the end of the run is where the real juice is. We’re looking at a proper dry stretch for the first several days, but the models are showing some serious movement later on.

Right now, through Sunday the 16th and into the start of the week, it’s all clean but tiny. Sunday morning’s showing a glassy 1 ft from the ENE with a short period of 10 seconds, and the combined swell energy is a weak 20. The water temp is sitting at 83°, which is about average for this time of year. That gentle offshore breeze from the ESE is keeping it tidy, but there’s just nothing to ride. That pattern of clean but flat continues through Monday and Tuesday the 18th. Tuesday afternoon actually goes to zero energy with 19 mph winds from the east, so the board stays on the car.

We get a bit of a pulse on Wednesday the 19th, but it’s compromised. The swell comes up to 5 ft from the east, period short at 8 seconds, and the combined energy climbs to a moderate 305. However, we’ve got a risk of thunderstorms and a fresh 22 mph offshore wind. The surf is poor quality – messy and blown out. Not worth the paddle.

From Thursday the 20th through Sunday the 23rd, we hit another flat zone with combined energies dropping to zero or near-zero. The wind swings around, and there’s even a glassy moment Sunday afternoon, but with no swell, it’s just a pretty day on the beach.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The second week starts to wake up around Monday the 25th with some small, short-period junky swell (2 ft, 7 seconds) but cross-onshore winds make it choppy. Not a goer. By Wednesday the 26th it’s a bit bigger (3 ft to 4 ft from the north) but still cross-onshore and lumpy – feels more like a kite session than a surf.

The standout arrives Thursday the 27th of August. This is the one to circle on the calendar. We get a proper groundswell: 8 ft from the east with a very long period of 15 seconds. The combined swell energy is a massive 3139 – that’s strong energy. This is expert-only territory (over 8 ft) and with that long period, the reef setup here at Mainside could really fire, though the cross-onshore wind (12 mph from the NW) is a bit of a buzzkill, making it choppy. It’s marked as marginal, but the power is there for those who know the break.

Saturday the 29th offers a cleaner option. The morning sees 4 ft from the NE, period a solid 14 seconds, combined energy at 928 (moderate), and a light breeze from the NE keeping it clean. This is a more manageable swell, good for experienced surfers, and the crowd factor is “sometimes” so you might not have it to yourself, but it’s well worth the look.

The best of the run, though, is Sunday the 30th of August. Sunday morning is glassy – dead calm with a light air from the NE. The swell is a solid 8 ft from the north, period 12 seconds, and the combined energy is a strong 1926. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. That glassy surface on a reef with that power? It’s going to be special. The afternoon drops slightly but still holds 8 ft. Just be aware, with that size, it’s not one for beginners.

Monday the 31st winds it down with a clean 3 ft to 4 ft from the east, long period (14 seconds), and clean conditions, which makes for a nice finisher.

So, the best on offer: Sunday the 30th of August, morning session at Mainside. Glassy, 8 ft from the north, and that reef will handle the long-period swell beautifully. A close second is Saturday the 29th of August morning for a slightly smaller, still clean option. The rest of the period is flat or messy.

Stay patient, stay stoked.
Rusty.

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