Rockpile Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about what’s cookin’ at Rockpile for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, the first week is pretty flat and frustrating. The swell is small, the wind is mostly blowing across or onto the waves, and it’s just not shaping up for a proper session. The water is 74°F, which is a huge 7°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s really unusual, so at least you’ll be comfortable in a spring suit.

From Wednesday the 22nd right through the end of July, the swell is hangin’ around 2 ft to 4 ft, mostly from the SW or SSW, with periods all over the place. The combined swell energy is moderate, in the 460s to 990s, but the wind is never clean. You’ve got cross-shore, cross-on, and sometimes onshore winds, with light to moderate breezes, and the surf quality is poor or marginal. There’s a tiny chance on Thursday the 31st with a midday combo of 5 ft SSW swell at 15 seconds and a light cross-on breeze, but it’s still not a standout.

Now, into the first weekend of August – Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd – the swell starts to push. Saturday morning shows 6 ft from the SSW with a period of 14 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 1174 (strong). The wind is a light cross-on from the WSW, so it’s not glassy, but it’s not trashed either. The afternoon sees 6 ft, still SSW, with energy at 1387 (strong). That’s a solid size, and at 6 ft, it’s getting a bit much for beginners. The period is moderate, so the waves will have some shape, but the cross-on wind will keep the surface a little bumpy. Sunday the 2nd backs off to 5 ft in the morning, still with a light onshore breeze, so it’s a step down.

After that, the surf fades again. Monday the 3rd drops to 3 ft, and from Tuesday the 4th through the 6th, it’s just poor. The swell is tiny (2 ft to 4 ft), the period is short (8 to 14 seconds), and the wind is moderate to fresh cross-on or onshore, making it choppy and messy. The energy is weak, only in the 190s to 320s. This is not worth paddling out for.

So, what’s the pick? Honestly, the best on offer is Saturday the 1st of August. The morning has 6 ft SSW swell with strong energy (1174), and the afternoon pushes to 6 ft (1387). The direction is from the SSW, which matches the optimum for Rockpile (SW). The wind is light cross-on, so it’s not perfect, but it’s the cleanest day of the whole run. The break is a reef, so it handles the groundswell okay, and the crowds are often here, so expect company. It’s a beginner-friendly reef, but at that size, be ready for a bit more push.

The rest of the fortnight is a waiting game. There’s a gap of about a week of poor conditions after the 2nd, right through to the end of the forecast. Nothing to get excited about, but that’s how it goes sometimes – forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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