Rockpiles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next couple of weeks for Rockpiles. Things are looking a bit ordinary for a while, but there might be a late window if you’re patient.

This is a reef break that’s exposed to the swell, and it’s a fairly consistent spot. The water temperature is sitting at 80°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no wetsuit worries.

The first few days are a write-off for a proper surf. On Thursday the 23rd, we’ve got a long-period 2 ft swell from the SSW, but the wind is howling at 25 mph from the ENE, making it a cross-off breeze. The combined energy is moderate at 963, but the conditions are just poor. It’s not worth paddling out.

Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th see a bump in swell size, up to 7 ft on Friday morning from the ENE, but the period is a short 7 seconds, and that wind is still a strong 25 mph cross-off. The wave energy climbs into the strong range (1022 to 1108), but the surf is marginal at best. The wind is relentless, and the short period doesn’t do any favours for shape.

From Sunday the 26th through to Tuesday the 29th of July, we’ve got a mix of E and ENE swells, mostly around 4 ft to 7 ft, with periods improving to 12-14 seconds. The wind eases a little, down to 15-19 mph, but it’s still a cross-off. The energy readings are moderate to strong (782 to 1259), but the forecast keeps calling it “marginal” due to tide or wind issues. Tuesday the 28th looks the best of this bunch with a 6 ft swell from the ENE at 12 seconds and a moderate breeze of 16 mph, but it’s still a cross-off. It’s clean but not great.

Then we hit a blank patch. From Thursday the 30th of July all the way through to Sunday the 2nd of August, the surf is poor. The swell drops right down to 2 ft to 2 ft, and the wind is either onshore or howling cross-off at 22-25 mph. The combined energy is weak to moderate (327 to 436). There’s nothing to get excited about.

The standout window arrives on Monday the 3rd of August. We’ve got a 4 ft swell from the E with a very long 16-second period. The combined energy is strong at 1183. The wind is still a fresh 19-22 mph cross-off from the ENE, but that long period means the waves will have some real push and shape. The surf is still called “marginal” though, so don’t expect perfection. This is a reef break, and a long period E swell will wrap in nicely here, but that cross-off wind might keep it from being glassy. It’s the best on offer in the whole forecast.

Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th of August have similar swells, around 6 ft to 6 ft from the ENE with periods of 8 to 12 seconds. The energy is strong (770 to 1155), but the wind is still a cross-off fresh breeze. It’s clean but not the standout.

If you’re a beginner, the swell never really gets over 5 ft in the cleanest conditions, so you’re mostly safe, but the wind is a factor. For experts, the Tuesday the 28th of July and Monday the 3rd of August are the only windows worth a look, and neither is a slam dunk. The long-period E swells on the reef could be a bit straight, but they’ll have power.

Overall, it’s a rough run. The best bet is to wait for Monday the 3rd of August for that very long-period E swell, but keep your expectations in check. The winds are just not cooperating.

Rusty.

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