Redcar Scars Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s going on in the water over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the first week and a half is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with basically nothing rideable. From the 28th of August right through to the 9th of September, it’s a desert out there. The swell is tiny, the periods are short, and the energy is just pathetic. You’ll see a few clean mornings with offshore winds, but with swell heights barely reaching 2 ft and wave energy reading as low as 10 (yes, ten), it’s not worth wetting a wetsuit. Even the glassy conditions on the 29th can’t save that 2 ft of weak, short-period slop. There’s a small spike of 5 ft on the 5th of September, but it’s coming straight onshore at Redcar Scars and the energy is still only 178 – it’s just messy.

Now, the first real glimmer of hope comes on the 7th of September. Monday morning, we’ve got a glassy session with the wind swinging offshore from the WSW. The swell is still a bit underwhelming at 3 ft from the ESE, but the energy is ticking up to 71. The report says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and I’d agree. It’s a small step up from the nothing we’ve had, but it’s not the one to get excited about.

The real standout, and the only one I’d call a true highlight, is the 9th of September. Wednesday morning, the swell height jumps to a solid 10 ft from the north, with a period of 12 seconds. That’s some proper groundswell energy, and the combined energy reading is a massive 5257. That’s a lot of power. Now, a word of caution: that’s expert territory. If you’re a beginner, you’re going to be in over your head. The wind is cross-off from the west, which will keep it reasonably clean, but that north swell is going to be a handful. It’s a reef break, so it can handle that size, but the period is long so expect some waiting between sets. The afternoon drops a little to 10 ft still, but the energy falls to 2440, and the report is calling it “marginal.” Still, for the big dogs, Wednesday the 9th is the day to circle.

The 10th of September also has some promise. Thursday morning, the swell drops to a more manageable 5 ft from the NNE, with a period of 10 seconds. The energy is still decent at 481, and we’ve got a light offshore breeze from the SSW. That’s going to be clean. It’s a step down in size, but it might be the best balance of power and paddle-ability for the more experienced intermediate surfers. The afternoon stays around 5 ft, but the wind goes cross-off, so it’s still a decent session.

After that, the 11th and 12th of September see the swell drop off sharply again, back to 3 ft and below, with the energy falling away. The wind stays clean, but the waves just aren’t there.

So, to sum it up: don’t bother with the first week. The best on offer is undeniably the 9th of September, with the 10 ft groundswell, but that’s for experts only. The 10th of September is a solid second option for those who want something a bit more user-friendly. The water temperature is sitting at 60°F, which is about average for the time of year, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit.

Stay safe out there, and wait for the good ones.

Rusty

Read more