Rockpiles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s look at what we’ve got coming up for Rockpiles. It’s a bit of a mixed bag this fortnight, with plenty of wind to work around, but there are a couple of windows that could be worth a look.

The water right now is sitting at 81°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We start off rough. The first few days are a write-off for decent surfing. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th are blown out by strong ENE winds around 25 mph, making for poor, messy conditions. There’s some swell, with 7 ft on offer, but the period is short and the wind is just too strong. The combined energy is moderate (977) but it’s not doing us any favours.

Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th see the wind drop a touch to a moderate breeze, but it’s still cross-off and the swell is mixed. The swell is around 7 ft to 8 ft with a much better period of 12 to 13 seconds, showing strong wave energy (2609). The surface stays clean, but the forecast is described as marginal, so it’s not a standout.

Now, Monday the 7th is a real Jekyll and Hyde. The morning looks promising with a solid 10 ft SSW swell and a very long period of 15 seconds, packing a massive punch of energy (6186). The wind is cross-off, which is a major positive. This is the kind of groundswell that will make the reef work, but with that size, it’s for experts only. The afternoon though, it all turns to rubbish. The wind swings onshore and cranks up to 25 mph, making it a total mess. So, the window is small.

The middle of the week from Tuesday the 8th to Thursday the 10th is a frustrating drop-off. The swell disappears, dropping to 3 ft to 3 ft, and the wind is still a fresh breeze from the ENE. It’s clean, but there’s just not enough energy in the water to hold you up.

We pick up again on Friday the 11th through to Monday the 14th. The swell returns to a solid 6 ft to 8 ft from the ENE, with periods around 8 to 13 seconds. The wind is a moderate cross-off, keeping things clean. The wave energy is strong, hitting 1483. This is a long run of clean, rideable surf, but it’s not a single standout event. It’s more of a good, consistent stretch of surf.

The standout call: Tuesday the 15th. This is the one to circle. The swell drops to 3 ft, but it’s a super-long period SSW groundswell of 20 to 21 seconds. The combined energy is still strong (1448). The wind is a light breeze from the ENE, making it glassy. The forecast says *excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers*. That long period groundswell will wrap around the reef perfectly, giving you clean, long lines. For a reef break, this is as good as it gets. Because of the quality, it’s worth mentioning that crowds are possible here.

The final few days of the forecast, from the 16th to the 18th, are a fading swell. The 18th of September has a brief uptick with 6 ft ENE swell and a gentle cross-off breeze, which is a nice way to finish the period.

So, hold out for Tuesday the 15th. That’s the real gem. The week before the 11th has some consistent waves, but the 15th is the true quality window.

Rusty.

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