Shipwrecks Bay-Peaks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about what’s coming down the pike for the next couple weeks.

Water temp is sitting around 59°, which is pretty normal for this stretch of the year. The only break worth talking about is Shipwrecks Bay-Peaks. It’s an advanced reef, fairly consistent, and needs a SW swell to light up – and that’s exactly what we’re getting.

The action kicks off this Thursday afternoon. There’s a 1.6m swell from the W with a 12-second period, and the wind is glassy, light N at 3 mph. The combined energy is strong at 1687, so there’s plenty of push. It’s clean and fun, but not too big.

Friday is the real deal. Friday morning the swell jumps to 2.1m from the WSW with a long 16-second period, energy at 2234. The wind is a light cross from the E, so it’s not perfect. But by Friday afternoon, it cleans right up: 2.2m SW swell, still that long 16-second period, and a light cross-offshore from the SE at 3 mph. That’s excellent surf for experienced surfers – powerful, lined-up waves.

Saturday morning gets a bit wild. The swell is 2.2m, but we’ve got a strong 19 mph offshore from the SSW, keeping it clean. The combined energy leaps to 3181, so there’s serious grunt. It’s still good for experienced crew, but that wind is strong. Saturday afternoon, the swell jumps to 3.0m with a 17-second period – monster groundswell – and energy hits 4953. The wind is cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but at 3.0m this is expert territory only.

Sunday through Monday sees the swell holding around 3.5m to 4.0m, with strong offshore winds from the S. The combined energy peaks near 7881. This is big-wave territory. Tuesday brings a drop to 2.5m, with clean offshore from the SSE at 9 mph – that’s a standout session for advanced surfers, with that powerful, long-period swell and clean conditions.

Wednesday and Thursday keep the swell in the 1.6m to 2.3m range, with clean offshore or cross-offshore winds. Energy stays in the 1600 to 2300 range. Good quality, consistent waves for the experienced crew.

Friday the 21st is a gem. The swell is 1.8m from the SW, 13-second period, and the wind goes glassy again – WSW at 3 mph. Combined energy is 1086, so it’s not as powerful, but the clean conditions and that long-period groundswell will make for some beautiful, glassy walls.

After that, there’s a real drop-off. Saturday the 22nd through to Tuesday the 27th, things get small and messy. The swell drops below 1.0m for a couple of days, and the winds turn cross-onshore or onshore. That’s a 5-day gap where there’s nothing worth paddling out for. The energy dips to 300–600 range, weak and choppy.

Then we get a bit of a pulse on the 27th. Thursday morning looks okay with a 2.5m swell, but the wind is cross-offshore, so it’s clean. The energy returns to 3000+. By Thursday afternoon, it’s a 2.5m SW swell with a 14-second period and a gentle cross-offshore wind. That’s excellent for experienced surfers again. Friday the 28th, the swell holds at 2.5m, but the wind turns onshore and cross-onshore, making it choppy and less appealing.

The standout window is Friday afternoon, August 14th and Tuesday morning, August 18th. For Friday, it’s that clean 2.2m, long-period SW groundswell with light cross-offshore wind. For Tuesday, it’s the 2.5m SW swell with clean offshore winds – powerful and lined up. For the experts, the Sunday-to-Monday big-wave window is your call.

One thing to remember: this is a reef break, so with those long-period swells (15–17 seconds), the waves will be dense and powerful. The crowd factor is listed as “rare,” so you might have it mostly to yourself, but given the quality, a few others will know.

This is a solid run for advanced and expert surfers. Beginners, stay on the beach when it’s over 1.5m.

Rusty.

Read more