Manly Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s in store for the next couple of weeks.

To be honest, the first week is a bit of a struggle. There’s nothing worth paddling out for until Friday the 4th. The whole setup looks pretty flat and the wind is messy. If you’re desperate, maybe have a look at the jetty, but don’t expect much.

The first real whisper of something happens on Friday morning, September 4th. Manly will see a small 4 ft swell from the south, with a period of 10 seconds. The wind is glassy – that’s a huge plus – so it will be clean. The combined wave energy is moderate (327). But it’s a beginner-friendly point break, and the swell is nothing special. It’s surfable, but it’s not going to get your heart racing.

We then have a few days of nothing much. Saturday and Sunday are both poor, with the wind swinging around. The water temp is around 64°, which is about average for this time of year.

The first truly standout day arrives on Tuesday morning, September 8th. Manly is looking good. The swell is a solid 6 ft from the south, with a 9-second period, and the wind is offshore from the WSW, just 6 mph. That’s clean as a whistle. The combined swell energy is a solid 546 (moderate to strong). This is a proper point break wave, and with that offshore wind, it’ll be peeling. Just a heads up: 6 ft is getting a bit meaty for absolute beginners, but for everyone else, get in the water. The crowd is often out here, so expect some company.

The next few days are a bit of a mixed bag. Wednesday the 9th is a write-off. Thursday the 10th has a morning with a 5 ft SSE swell and strong offshore wind (19 mph), but the period is short (7 seconds), so it’s a bit of a messy, choppy affair. The energy is high (750), but it’s not quality. Probably more fun for the kite surfers than paddle surfers.

Now, we get another good run. Friday morning, September 11th. Manly is clean again. Swell is 5 ft from the south, period 12 seconds, and wind is a gentle cross-off from the SSE. Combined energy is strong (594). This is a nice, long-period groundswell. It’ll have some punch, and the waves will be well-shaped. A solid option.

After that, the weekend of the 12th and 13th is a dud. Onshore winds and a messy NE swell.

The next real standout is Wednesday morning, September 16th. Manly sees a 6 ft swell from the east, with a short 8-second period, but the wind is offshore from the west at 9 mph. The energy is moderate (468). It’s not the most powerful swell, but that offshore wind will make it clean and fun. Then Wednesday afternoon gets even better: 6 ft from the east, with a moderate offshore breeze from the WSW. The wave comment says “expect good surf conditions,” and I agree.

Thursday the 17th is a return to poor conditions with onshore wind.

So, to sum it up: If you want the best of the best, set your alarm for Tuesday morning, September 8th for the best combo of size and offshore wind. Friday morning, September 11th is a close second for the longer period groundswell. The second week has a couple of solid days, but they are less certain at this range.

-Rusty

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