Rockpile Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for our local reef, Rockpile.

Honestly, looking at the next two and a half weeks, it's a bit of a tough watch for us. The surf is small, the wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore, and the wave energy is consistently weak. There’s a long stretch of days where it just isn't worth paddling out. From Wednesday the 5th of August right through to the end of the first week, we’re looking at tiny swell—hovering around 2ft to 2ft. The combined energy is low, bouncing between 132 and 387 (weak to moderate), and the wind is never truly offshore. It's a lot of light to gentle breezes messing up what little shape there is. The forecast is a solid "poor" for days on end.

There is a slight change in the second week. From around Friday the 14th of August, we start to see the swell tick up a bit, with heights reaching 3ft to 4ft by Saturday the 15th. The combined energy also climbs into the moderate range, hitting 631 on Friday afternoon and 609 on Saturday afternoon. That's the best we're going to see, but it's still marginal. The wind remains a persistent cross-onshore from the W or WNW, so it’s going to be a bit choppy and lumpy. The direction is coming from the SW, which is the optimum direction for Rockpile, so that's one positive. The period is a decent 15 to 16 seconds, which is a long-period groundswell, meaning the waves will have some push and shape, but the cross-onshore wind will be the main challenge.

Because of that persistent wind and the small, weak nature of the swell for most of the period, this setup looks more interesting for a kite session than a paddle session, especially for the first week and a half. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The only real standout, if you can call it that, is the afternoon of Saturday the 15th of August. That’s when the swell peaks at 4ft from the SW, with a period of 16 seconds. The energy is at 609, which is a solid moderate pulse. The wind is cross-onshore, so it won't be glassy, but it's the best combo of size and energy we get. It’s still only a marginal call, so don't expect perfection. And remember, that long period from the SW means it’s breaking a bit more straight at this reef, so positioning is key. Crowds are often a factor here, so expect a few others hoping for the same thing.

For the rest of the window, it's a waiting game. The surf is small and the wind is working against us. Stick to the longboard if you're desperate, but don't expect much.

Rusty.

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