Rockpiles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s cookin’ for Rockpiles over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you – it’s a bit of a mixed bag, and the good stuff is really gonna test your patience.

We’re talkin’ a drawn-out stretch of marginal conditions for the most part. The first real run of notable swell doesn’t kick in until around Friday the 24th, when we see a jump in size to 7 ft, but that’s coming from the ENE with a super short period of just 7 seconds. That’s a lot of bumpy, messy water – not the clean lines we want. The wind is a persistent cross-off from the ENE, which means the surface will be clean, but the swell quality just isn’t there for a good paddle session. The combined swell energy is moderate to strong, hitting 1091, but it’s all short-period junk.

Honestly, the absolute best window looks like it’s going to be the morning of Tuesday, July 28th, and the morning of Wednesday, July 29th. On the 28th, we’ve got a solid 7 ft swell from the ENE with a much better period of 13 seconds (1091 energy), and the cross-off wind from the ENE at 15 mph will keep things clean. That’s some proper groundswell energy. The next morning on the 29th, we’re looking at a similar setup: 7 ft from the east at 12 seconds, with a lighter 15 mph cross-off. These two sessions are the standouts, but it’s still not a perfect forecast, so don’t expect perfection.

Later on, around the morning of Wednesday, August 5th, we get a spike in size and energy – 8 ft from the ENE at 13 seconds, with energy readings up at 2167. That’s a powerful swell, but it’s getting up there in size. For the average Joe, over 8 ft is expert territory, and this is right on the edge. The wind is still a fresh cross-off, so it’ll be clean, but that’s a serious paddle for anyone not used to it.

Look, Rockpiles is an exposed reef break that likes a good SSE swell. The energy we’re getting is mostly from the ENE, which isn’t its absolute optimum. The water temp is sitting around 80°F, which is pretty much average for this time of year, so no worries about a thermoshock.

For the longer haul, the second week really fades out. There’s a lot of smaller, short-period junk and the models get a bit fuzzy. Don’t bank on the stuff way out there.

So, here’s the bottom line: If you’re a keen surfer with some patience, the mornings of July 28th and 29th are your best shots. It's not gonna be a pumping, perfect day, but it’s the best we’re gonna see in this window.

Rusty.

Read more