Rockpiles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Rockpiles has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.

Alright, straight up, the forecast for Rockpiles is a bit of a slow burn. We're looking at a long stretch of mediocre conditions, and honestly, it's not until the end of the run that we might see something half-decent. The good news is Rockpiles is a fairly consistent reef break that’s exposed to the swell, so when it's on, it's on. Right now though, we're in a waiting game.

Tuesday the 18th kicks things off with a small 2 ft S swell and a 13-second period, which isn't bad for shape, but that 19 mph cross-offshore wind from the ENE is making things look pretty average. The energy is sitting at a moderate 396, but the surf quality is just poor. That tiny 4 ft (ENE) on Tuesday arvo with a short 7-second period is a no-go for paddling; honestly, it's more of a kiteboarding situation with those winds.

We drift through Wednesday and Thursday the 20th. Thursday morning shows a tiny glimmer of hope – a 2 ft SSW groundswell with a long 18-second period, and the wind backs off to a gentle 9 mph breeze from the E. It's still cross-off, but the wave energy is moderate (281) and the surf quality is labeled as "good." This would be the pick of the first few days, but it’s tiny – really only for a longboard or a funboard. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

From Friday the 21st onward, it's a long, grim stretch. The wind cranks up to a fresh to strong breeze from the ENE, blowing 19 to 28 mph. The swell direction locks in from the ENE, with a short 7-second period. This makes for lumpy, choppy, and basically unsurfable conditions for a solid week. The combined energy climbs from 461 into the 800-1000 range (strong), but it’s all windswell with terrible shape. For a reef break like Rockpiles, a short-period swell is never going to produce the goods.

We finally start to see a shift around the 30th of August. The wind eases a touch to 22 mph from the ENE, and the period stretches out to 10 seconds. The swell drops to 5 ft to 5 ft. It’s still poor overall, but that increase in period is a positive sign.

The standout window for the whole forecast is looking like Monday the 31st of August morning. There's a pulse of 5 ft ENE swell with a 10-second period, and the cross-off wind is a more manageable 19 mph. The combined energy is a solid 591 (moderate to strong). Sure, it's not perfect, but after a week of junk, it's the best on offer. It’s still expert-only territory though, with that size and period, and the ENE direction isn’t ideal for Rockpiles (it prefers SSE). Crowds are *sometimes* there, so you might have some company, but given the long flat spell, it might be quiet.

So, to wrap it up: Don't bother until that last week of August. Thursday the 20th is your best *small* chance early on, but the real call is Monday the 31st of August morning – that's the standout, but be prepared for a fight with the wind.

Stay patient, gang.

Rusty.

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