Shichirigahama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mates, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at the stretch ahead.

The next couple of weeks are looking pretty lackluster for Shichigahama. It’s not a total no-go, but you’ll have to be patient and pick your moments. The early days have the most size, but the winds are messy. It’s a classic case of plenty of water moving around, but very little of it offering up a clean, rideable wave. We’ve got a couple of promising windows, but nothing that’s going to have you calling in sick for work.

We kick things off on Thursday the 6th. There’s some size, around 6 feet, with a long-period groundswell at 13 seconds. The energy is solid, we’re talking a reading of 1131, which is strong. But the morning wind is cross-off from the NE at 9 mph, which helps, but it's still rated as marginal. The afternoon goes onshore from the south, so it’s pretty much a waste. If you’re keen, the early bird might get a few, but set your expectations low.

Friday the 7th is more of the same. Morning sees about 6 feet of surf with the same long period, but the wind is a cross-shore from the SE at a light 6 mph. The clean conditions just aren't quite there. A few ripples on the face will keep things average. The afternoon is blown out by a stronger south wind. Not the day for it.

Saturday the 8th drops a little to around 4 feet. Morning has a light cross breeze from the SE at 3 mph, keeping it semi-clean, but the energy is on the way down. Afternoon is onshore again, so no good.

Now, here’s where things get interesting. Sunday the 9th is our first real standout. The morning brings a drop in height to about 2 feet, but the wind is a light cross-offshore breeze from the ENE at 3 mph. It’s almost glassy. The swell period jumps up to 14 seconds, so there’s plenty of push for such a small wave. This is the cleanest we’ll see it, and it’s going to be your best chance for a proper, peaceful surf. It’s inconsistent, but when the sets roll through, they’ll be pretty. The energy is down to 360, but the quality will be there.

After that, the plug gets pulled. We’ve got a stretch of days from Monday the 10th all the way through to the 19th where the swell drops out and the winds turn onshore or too strong. Monday the 10th has offshore winds but only 2 feet - not enough push. Then we go into a bleak period where the days are dominated by onshore southerlies and fresh breezes. There is a chance on the 12th with a morning offshore wind, but the swell is just 2 feet. This part of the run is a real bummer, with nothing but poor surf conditions and waves that are too small to do anything with. The energy readings drop into the double digits, signaling a weak, lifeless ocean.

We finally see a glimmer of life on the 20th of August. There’s a bump in the swell back to about 2 feet, a longer 11-12 second period, and moderate offshore winds. It’s still small, but it’s surfable. The energy is getting back over 100, which is better than the 30s and 40s we saw. It’s only marginal, but it’s something to start watching again. Then the 21st holds a similar promise with 2-foot waves and clean, offshore winds. It’s still not big, but the outlook is more hopeful than the dead zone we just went through.

So there you have it. The pick of the bunch is clearly the Sunday morning session. Keep an eye on that south-southwest swell direction and the light air – that’s your window. The second week is a write-off, so don’t bother staring at the ocean for long. Look for the small, clean windows and get out there for a paddle, just don't expect anything epic.

Rusty, signing off.

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