Renaca Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaking on the coast.

We’re looking at a stretch that starts slow, real slow. For the first week and a half, the surf is pretty marginal. The conditions are constantly fighting us – mostly cross-on or onshore winds and choppy, messy waves. There’s a real gap from the 7th of September right through until the 11th, where nothing is really worth paddling out for. The combined energy of the swells is weak to moderate at best, sitting around 376 to 791 (moderate wave energy), but the quality just isn’t there.

Renaca is the only spot on the table, an exposed beach break that is very consistent. The wave heights are hovering around 3 ft to 5 ft, coming from the SW. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing to write home about. The real issue is the wind – it’s cross-on or onshore for the majority of the time, turning the waves into a bumpy mess.

Now, there is a glimmer. On Friday morning, the 11th of September, we get a glassy window. The wind goes completely calm, the swell is a clean 3 ft from the SW, and the combined energy is a weak 295. It’s small, but it will be the cleanest surf of the early week. The score is low, but it’s the only real chance for a longboard or a fun board to get some smooth, clean lines. The rest of the week falls back into the same old pattern of poor conditions.

The Standout

Alright, if you've got patience, this is the one. Skip ahead to Sunday, the 20th of September. The morning is glassy, with a clean 6 ft swell from the SW. The combined energy jumps to 1095, which is strong wave energy. This is where it gets good for experienced surfers. The real magic is the afternoon. The wind is glassy again, from the NW, and the swell pushes to 8 ft from the SW with a period of 14 seconds. That’s a solid groundswell. The combined energy hits a massive 2165, which is very strong wave energy. This is going to be powerful, clean, and lined up. It’s too big for beginners, but for the crew who know what they’re doing, it’s the best on offer. The only downside is that it’s a beach break, so a long period swell like this (over 11 seconds) might break a bit straight, but the glassy conditions will make it a memorable session.

The 22nd of September, Tuesday morning, sees a huge 8 ft SW swell (over 15 seconds period) with a combined energy of 2863 (very strong wave energy). This is big, powerful, and for experts only. The wind is onshore, though, which will likely put a heavy chop on the face. It’s a powerful wave, but it won’t be clean.

So, if you’re hanging for a wave, the 20th of September is the standout. The 11th is your only other hope for a clean, small wave.

Rusty.

Read more