Shichirigahama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the Shichigahama region. To be straight with you, the next week or so is pretty grim. We’ve got a long stretch of tiny, weak swell and mostly poor conditions. The first real glimmer of anything worthwhile doesn’t show up until Monday the 7th of September, and even then, it’s only just surfable. The energy is pretty weak at that point, with combined swell energy bumping up to around 118 (moderate), but the wave heights are still only 2 ft and the conditions are described as very ordinary. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no shock there. It’s not until Wednesday the 9th that we start to see a bit more size, with swell climbing to 4 ft from the SSE. The combined energy jumps into the moderate range (336-445), and the wind is clean offshore from the NNE to NE, which is a big plus. Still, the forecasters are calling it marginal, so don’t expect perfection. Thursday the 10th offers similar conditions, with 5 ft SSE swell and a solid 750 (strong) energy reading, but again, it’s only a marginal call. The wind is still offshore in the morning, so it could be worth a look for the more dedicated among you.

Then things get messy. Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th see a big jump in swell height, up to 6 ft and 8 ft from the SSE and S, with combined energy spiking into the strong range (1361 and 1034). But the wind is onshore and howling – near gale force on Friday – blowing it all out. This is a poor setup for paddle surfing, but if you’re into kite surfing, the combination of strong wind and solid swell could be more interesting. The swell is also on the short period side (10-11 seconds), so it’s not going to be the best shape.

The real standout, and the only day I’d get genuinely excited about, is Tuesday the 15th of September. Now we’re talking. The forecast shows a 13 ft swell from the SSE with a period of 13 seconds, which is a proper groundswell with plenty of energy (combined energy of 5491 – very strong). The wind is a moderate offshore breeze from the NE, so the waves should be clean and well-shaped. That size is only for experienced surfers, mind you – over 8 ft is expert territory. Also, with that long period, the sets will be more powerful and have longer gaps between them, which can make paddling out a bit easier. But for a beach break like Shichigahama, that long period can sometimes make the waves break too straight, so it’s worth keeping in mind. Still, this is the best option in the entire 16-day window, hands down. Just remember, it’s a long way out, so treat it as a promising but not locked-in call.

Rusty.

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