Mainside Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s cookin’ at Mainside for the next couple weeks.

First thing, the water’s sitting at about 86°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year — nothin’ crazy, just that nice warm bathwater feel that makes a summer session a bit more pleasant.

The story here is a long, dry stretch before anything really gets going. From now through the middle of next week, it’s mostly tiny, messy, or just plain poor. The wind is consistently strong and cross-offshore or cross-shore, with a lot of thunderstorm risk keepin’ things unsettled. There’s a little spike around Monday morning the 10th of August, with a 5ft west swell and period around 11 seconds, and the combined energy readin’ 708 — that’s proper moderate energy, but the wind is a fresh cross-offshore 19 mph, so it’s not clean enough to get excited about. The call is marginal, and the afternoon drops off quick.

After that, it’s back to small weak stuff. The 11th through the 14th are all in the poor category, with tiny swell and energy readings mostly under 100. There’s a brief flicker on Sunday the 16th of August, when the wind drops to glassy in the afternoon — 2ft of east swell, 10-second period, energy around 55. It’s surfable but ordinary, nothin’ to rave about.

The first real standout comes on Monday the 17th of August. The morning sees a 2ft swell from the east-northeast with a 12-second period, givin’ the waves a bit more shape and energy — energy reading 109. The wind is light offshore (9 mph) from the east, so it’s clean and lined up. That afternoon picks up too, with a moderate 16 mph offshore wind keepin’ things clean. Combined energy hits 111. For a reef break that likes swell from the north, this east-northeast direction isn’t perfect, but it’s the best we’ll see all period. The size is small, so it’s not a big-wave day, but for a clean, fun session with no crowds likely, this is the pick.

After that, the 18th and 19th go flat again, with tiny or no swell. The 20th of August has a 28 mph offshore wind, but the swell is basically nothin’ — 0.7ft and 0.3ft, energy in the single digits. Hard to paddle into, even if it’s clean.

The 21st afternoon sees a 4ft east swell, 8-second period, with a fresh 22 mph offshore wind — energy 154. That’s moderate energy, but the period is short, so it’s a bit disorganised. Still, it’s clean and offshore, so it’s worth a look if you’re keen.

The 22nd holds similar small east swell, but the period drops to 7 seconds and the wind stays fresh. Not great.

Bottom line: The best window is Monday the 17th of August, with clean offshore winds, a small but well-shaped groundswell from the east-northeast, and the reef handlin’ it well. Everything else is a write-off or just ordinary. If you’re around Mainside, that’s your day.

Rusty.

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