Makorori Centre Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' at Makorori Centre.

Alright, we've got a bit of a mixed bag for the next couple of weeks. The first few days are a bit of a write-off, but there's a real gem hiding in there for the experienced crew if you're patient. The water's sitting at about 56°F, which is a touch cooler than usual for this time of year, but nothing to write home about.

We kick off on Tuesday, the 28th of July, but it's a no-go. There's a solid 7ft SE swell (3199) but it's got a cross wind on it, making it a messy, lumpy affair. Not worth paddling out for.

Wednesday the 29th morning is a tease. The swell drops to a still-chunky 6ft from the ESE, but the wind goes light offshore from the WNW. It's clean, but the energy is fading (877). It's a looker, but not the best on offer.

Thursday the 30th is where it starts to get interesting. The morning is a beauty. A clean 4ft ESE groundswell with a 12-second period and a light offshore from the NNW. It's clean, it's lined up, and the energy is moderate (515). This is a good, solid session for a confident surfer.

Now, the real standout for the whole outlook is Tuesday, the 4th of August. The afternoon session is the one. A 5ft SSE swell, but with a 17-second period – that's proper long-period groundswell energy (1580). The wind goes glassy, dead calm. For a break like Makorori Centre, which is a beach and reef setup, that long period is going to push through nice and deep, and the glassy conditions will make it a dream. This is the pick of the whole period for experienced surfers. Watch out for the crowds though, as it's a known spot that can get busy.

Wednesday the 5th of August is a write-off with a howling SW wind, and the rest of the week into the second week is a mess. The swell gets huge, with a 16ft S swell on the 7th of August, but the wind is on it, making it only for the brave and completely unappealing for normal surfing. The energy is massive (17501) but the quality is zero.

After that, from the 8th of August onwards, it's all gale-force winds and messy conditions. There's a bit of a swell on the 12th of August, but it's short period and the wind is howling. A total blank run for the second week, really.

So, to wrap it up: the best on offer is hands-down that Tuesday afternoon, the 4th of August. The next best is the Thursday morning, the 30th of July. Everything else is a pass. It's a tough period for the Gisborne coast, but those two windows are worth holding out for.

Rusty.

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