Point Arena Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, it's Rusty. Let's get stuck into the outlook for Point Arena.

Looks like we're in for a bit of a wait, to be honest. The first few days are a write-off with messy, small, or cross-onshore slop, so don't bother paddling out until later in the week. The real action, and the standout window, kicks off on Sunday, the 9th of August, and runs through the middle of the following week. The water temp is sitting about average for the time of year, so nothing wild there.

The best bet on offer is Point Arena itself. It's a very consistent reef break that's fairly exposed to the NW swell, which is exactly what's coming. The standout period is from Sunday the 9th right through to Thursday the 13th. We're looking at a solid pulse of NW groundswell, with waves hanging around 8 ft to 10 ft. That's expert territory, no question. The combined swell energy is massive, with readings ranging from 1116 to 2807, so there's a heap of power in the water. The wind is the kicker though – it's mostly cross-off or just cross, meaning the wave faces will be clean and lined up. This is a proper reef, so that long-period groundswell (8 to 10 seconds) will wrap in nicely, giving you those long, grinding walls. Just be aware that crowds are likely here, as it's a well-known spot.

The 16th and 17th of August see a drop in size, with waves down to 3 ft to 3 ft, and the period gets very long (15 to 17 seconds). The energy is a moderate 399 to 575. While the wind stays clean, that super long period at a reef might make it a bit too straight and trickier to find a good take-off zone. It's one for the longboard or a patient surfer.

The last few days from the 18th of August onwards look poor again, with smaller weak waves and messy cross-shore winds, so that's the end of the run.

So, for the best waves, point your board at Point Arena from Sunday the 9th through to Thursday the 13th. It's big, it's powerful, and it's clean. Not one for the faint-hearted.

Rusty.

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