Secret Harbour Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's coming up at Secret Harbour.

We've got a solid run of swell on the way, but you're gonna have to pick your moments. The wind is the real story here – it's going to mess with some otherwise great waves.

The first real standout looks like Monday morning, August 24th. We've got a clean 7ft swell rolling in from the west-southwest with a solid 14-second period, and the wind is a light, cross-off breeze from the east-southeast. The combined swell energy is ripping at 1570 (moderate to strong), and the water temp is about average for the time of year. It's a sandbar, so it’s a bit more fickle than a reef, but when it's on, it's on. This is for the experienced crew, though – that 7ft is a bit much for the groms. The cross-off wind will keep the faces clean, so it’s probably the best all-round session of the first week.

Things get a bit chaotic after that. A strong, long-period groundswell hits on Wednesday, August 26th, with a massive 12ft swell and a period of 19 seconds from the west. The combined energy is a huge 8755 (very strong). That’s expert territory only, and it's a little tricky because a long-period swell like that at a sandbar can be a bit shifty and heavy. The morning wind is light and onshore, which will make it a big, bumpy beast. The afternoon is a cross-onshore chop. Not the best for a clean paddle, but for the big-wave specialists, it's a window.

The next serious highlight is Saturday, August 29th. The morning session has a clean 3ft bump from the west-southwest with a 19-second period, and the wind is a gentle offshore from the east-northeast. That's a beautiful combination for a long, glidey feel. But the real gem is the Saturday afternoon: a glassy 5ft west-southwest swell with a 16-second period. The combined energy is 1804 (moderate to strong), and the wind is dead glassy from the east-northeast. That is as clean as it gets. The sets will be a bit fat, but the shape will be perfect. This is the best session of the entire forecast for the average to advanced surfer.

After that, we have a decent run of clean, cross-off mornings through to the start of September. The Tuesday morning, September 1st looks good – a 7ft west-southwest swell with a 16-second period and a light cross-off breeze from the north. The combined energy is 1846 (moderate to strong). It’s clean, but that 7ft is still a handful for the learner.

The second week brings bigger, more consistent swell, but the wind turns more southerly, making it choppy. The Friday and Saturday, September 5th and 6th, see a return of the 10ft+ swell from the west-southwest, but with strong onshore and cross-shore winds. The combined energy is massive (4300+), but it’s going to be a messy, bumpy mess. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle session. The Monday morning, September 8th is a better bet: a 8ft west-southwest swell with a 13-second period, a clean cross-off breeze from the north-northeast, and a combined energy of 1877. That’s a solid, clean end to the run.

Overall, the standout is Saturday, August 29th afternoon. Get that one in the diary. The Monday morning, August 24th, is a close second for the more experienced paddler.

Rusty.

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