Rockpile Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up in the local waters.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week or so is a bit of a grind. We’ve got a solid, long-period groundswell rolling in from the SW, but the wind just won’t play nice, keeping things choppy and messy. The wave energy is sitting at a moderate 633, but it’s not translating into clean surf. We’re starting with Rockpile on Saturday the 29th of August. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The long period (16 seconds) of that swell is a classic sign of quality energy, but it’s coming in with a cross-onshore wind, which is a real shame. This is a reef break, so it can handle the direction, but the surface is gonna be a mess. Saturday morning is the pick of a bad bunch, with a marginal 4ft swell from the SW, but it’s just not clean enough to get excited about. Sunday the 30th is much the same story, with a 3ft swell and onshore wind. The crowd profile suggests things could get busy here, but honestly, with conditions this poor, it might not be as hectic as normal.

We go through the whole week with these gentle cross-onshore winds and small, choppy waves. The energy drops off a bit, and the period shortens up, making for weak, junky surf. Monday the 31st of August is a 3ft swell, and it just gets smaller. Tuesday the 1st of September sees a bit of a shift with a cross-offshore wind, which cleans the surface up, but the swell drops to 2ft. It’s rideable, but you’ll be working for it.

Now, the real standout is a week and a half away. Mark your calendars for Monday the 7th of September. The swell jumps up to 6ft from the SSW with a 13-second period, pushing the wave energy into the strong range at 1098. The wind is a light, cross-offshore breeze from the NNW, which means it’s gonna be clean. This is a reef break, and that long-period groundswell is perfect for it – expect well-shaped, powerful lines. The crowd situation is listed as "often," so expect company, but it’s worth it. Monday morning is the best on offer, with excellent conditions for experienced surfers. The afternoon is slightly bigger at 6ft, but a bit more marginal.

Tuesday the 8th of September gets blown out by a strong SSE wind, so don’t even bother. After that, the swell drops right off again, fading into tiny, weak waves (1ft to 3ft) through the rest of the second week. The long-period energy is still there on the 13th of September with an 18-second swell, but at 1ft, it’s barely a ripple.

So, the clear winner is Monday the 7th of September. Everything else is a waiting game. If you’ve got the patience, that’s your day.

- Rusty

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