Shipwrecks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – this forecast is a rough one for the most part. We’re looking at a long stretch of pretty ordinary conditions, but there’s a couple of moments that’ll get your heart pumping if you’re patient. The water temp is running about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.

The first real chance for a surf comes up on Thursday, July 16th, at Shipwrecks. The swell bumps up to 6 ft from the SSE, with a period of 11 seconds. The combined energy is pushing into the strong zone (1629), but the wind is onshore in the morning, and cross-onshore in the afternoon. The forecast says marginal surf, so it’s not a write-off, but it’s not clean. Thursday afternoon sees the swell jump to 8 ft from the S – that’s getting into the expert-only territory, and the cross-onshore wind will make it a messy beast.

Then, Friday July 17th is a day of two halves. The morning looks nasty with a risk of thunderstorms, 16 mph onshore wind, and a 10 ft swell that’s too big and messy for anyone. But Friday afternoon – that’s the standout. The wind goes glassy, the swell drops to a solid 7 ft from the S with an 11-second period, and the energy is still strong (1186). The report says “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s the window. If you can get out there Friday afternoon, you’ll be rewarded with clean, powerful waves at Shipwrecks. The swell direction is SSW, which is a good match for this spot’s optimum from the south. Just be aware that with a 7 ft swell, it’s for the experienced crew; beginners should sit this one out.

After that, it gets quiet again. We have a gap of several days with no real recommendations. The swell drops right off, and the wind stays messy. There’s a whisper of something on Saturday July 25th, though. That’s a week and a half away, so take it with a grain of salt, but the morning of the 25th looks promising: glassy conditions with a 3 ft swell from the SSW on a very long 20-second period. The energy is moderate (1287), but that long period groundswell will wrap in nicely at a reef and point like Shipwrecks. It’s not huge, but it’ll be clean and lined up. The afternoon gets a bit lumpy with a cross-shore wind, but the morning is the pick of the second week.

So, to sum it up: the best bet is Friday afternoon, July 17th. It’s the only real standout. The Saturday morning of July 25th is a long-range promise, but it’s less certain. For the rest of it, you’re better off with a kiteboard if the wind cooperates, because the paddle surfing is mostly a no-go.

Rusty.

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