Rockpile Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for Rockpile over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I’ll be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. We’re looking at a long run of marginal to poor conditions, with the first real actionable surf not showing up until the 8th of September. From the 8th right through to the 23rd, it’s mostly a story of small, marginal waves and tough wind directions. The water’s sitting at 72°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing your nuts off while you’re waiting for a set.

Let’s start with the opening day, Tuesday the 8th of September. Rockpile is seeing a 3ft SSW swell, with a solid 10-second period and a moderate combined energy of 514. The wind is NW at 12 mph, which is cross-off in the afternoon, cleaning things up nicely. It’s only a 3ft wave, so it’s not gonna win any awards, but a clean, cross-off 3ft at a reef like Rockpile is a hell of a lot better than the onshore junk that follows. The morning is a bit cross and choppy, but the afternoon window is the pick of the day.

Wednesday the 9th we drop right down. Swell drops to 2ft on the morning, 2ft in the afternoon, with a long 16-second period. That long period is a double-edged sword here – it’ll have some energy, but the combined energy is moderate at 365-397. The wind is light and variable, cross-on and then cross. This is beginner territory at best, and honestly, the tide and quality are questionable.

Thursday the 10th through to the 14th is a bit of a write-off. The swell pushes up to 4ft on the 14th, but it’s a short-period 8-9 second W windswell, and the wind is onshore or cross-onshore from the SSW at 9-12 mph. The combined energy is moderate, but the conditions are poor and choppy. This is one of those times where the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing – the wind is there, the waves are messy.

From the 15th of September onwards, we get a bit of a pulse. On the 15th, we see a 2ft SW swell with a 16-second period in the morning, dropping to 1ft with a 20-second period in the afternoon. That 20-second period is very long, meaning it’s proper groundswell, but it’s tiny. The 16th brings 3ft at 17 seconds, and the 18th shows 2ft at 19 seconds. The wind is mostly light and onshore, keeping the quality marginal.

The best window in the whole 16-day forecast, and I mean the only real stand-out, is the afternoon of Monday the 21st of September. We’re looking at a 3ft SW swell, 16-second period, combined energy of 530. The wind is NW at 9 mph, putting it in a clean cross-shore position. The water is still warm, and the light breeze will keep the surface smooth. It’s not huge, but for a reef like Rockpile that needs a clean direction, this is the best bet. The 22nd and 23rd are similar but with more cross-on wind, so they’re a step down.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a grind. The second week is a waiting game, but if you can hold out for the 21st of September, you’ll be rewarded with the cleanest, most lined-up waves of the period. It’s not a classic run, but that one afternoon has a bit of magic in it.

Rusty out.

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