Rehoboth Main Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: we’ve got a 16-day window ahead, and most of it is a write-off. The first surfable recommendation doesn’t pop up until Friday, 28 August, so the first couple of days are a total bust – don’t bother.

The overall pattern is grim. We’re looking at tiny, weak swell for the vast majority of the period, with poor conditions and bad wind. The only real hope comes late in the second week, but even that is a long shot. Let’s get into it.

Friday, 28 August is the first day that offers anything. Early morning at Rehoboth Main, we’ve got a tiny 1 ft swell from the SE, with a short period of 8 seconds. The wind is glassy – zero breeze – so the surface will be dead flat and clean. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 77°, about 3° above average for this time of year.

The combined swell energy is a weak 43 (low energy), so you’re not going to get much push. The afternoon sees a slight improvement with a 2 ft swell from the ESE and a light offshore wind, giving clean conditions. That’s your best bet for the whole first week. It’s beginner-friendly at this size, just don’t expect much power.

Saturday, 29 August through to the end of the first week and into the second week (up to 5 September) is a desert. We’re talking day after day of 1.0 ft to 2 ft slop, mostly onshore or cross-shore winds, and short periods. The combined energy rarely breaks 50 (very weak). The only highlight is a morning on Tuesday, 1 September, with a light offshore wind, but the swell is a pathetic 1 ft. Not worth the paddle.

Saturday, 5 September is where things get a bit more interesting. The morning brings a 3 ft swell from the E, with a period of 8 seconds, and a clean cross-offshore wind. The combined energy jumps to 116 (moderate), so there’s some actual push here. The afternoon looks even better: 4 ft from the E, period 9 seconds, and a clean cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy hits 342 (moderate to strong). This is the standout of the entire forecast. The swell direction (E) is not the optimum (E), so it’s a match. It’s still clean and the wind is solid. The wave comment says “poor surf conditions” but the energy and wind are the best we’ll see. At 4 ft, it’s fine for intermediates and up. This is your best chance.

Sunday, 6 September and the start of the next week see a drop back to 2 ft to 2 ft, with moderate energy (70 to 106) and messy cross-shore winds. A few days later, on Wednesday, 9 September, we get a last gasp: a 3 ft swell from the SE in the morning with a light offshore wind, and a 4 ft from the SE in the afternoon. The period is short (4-5 seconds), so it’s weak, but the wind is clean. The combined energy is 104 (moderate) in the afternoon. It’s surfable, but that’s about it.

For the consistent but poor quality, it’s a beach break setup, so you could argue it’s more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing when the wind is up.

So, to sum it up: the 5th of September is the one to circle. The rest is mostly a waiting game. Stay optimistic – it’s a long season.

Rusty.

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