Shipwrecks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s coming down the line for Shipwrecks.

Well, it’s a mixed bag this period, and honestly, the start is pretty quiet. The first decent window isn’t until the afternoon of Friday the 11th of September. Not exactly a firing start. You’ll be looking at small, 2ft swell from the SW with a nice 15-second period, so there’s some energy behind it – the combined energy reading comes in at 257. That’s a weak-moderate energy, so it won’t be pumping. The wind is WSW at 6 mph, which is cross-offshore here, so it’ll be clean, but the wave comment calls it “very ordinary conditions.” That’s about right. The water is cooking at 88°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so a spring suit might be overkill.

The outlook picks up a little clearer toward the middle of the week, but don't get your hopes up. From Monday the 14th to Friday the 18th, we’re seeing persistent small surf with heights rarely pushing past 3ft and moderate energy numbers between 369 and 460. The winds are mostly a light cross-onshore or onshore breeze, which won't help the shape much. The wave comments through this stretch are all "poor surf conditions" or "marginal surf" – it’s a frustrating run of nothing special.

Now, the one that stands out – and the only real highlight in the window – is Sunday the 20th of September. We get a slight bump in energy to 531, which is moderate to strong, with a 3ft SSW swell and a solid 19-second period. That's a long-period groundswell, which at this reef and point spot will wrap in nicely and offer some proper lines. The wind in the morning is a light SW at 3 mph, putting it in cross/cross-off territory, keeping things tidy. This is your best chance for a decent session. The one caveat is that the 19-second period can make the sets a bit inconsistent, and the breaks will be more defined, so wait for the good ones. The crowd factor at Shipwrecks shows “often,” so don’t expect to have it to yourself.

After that slight peak, it tapers back. Monday the 21st to Wednesday the 23rd still shows some 3ft SW swell with moderate energy, but wind is predominantly from the SE or light cross-shore, so it'll be okay but not a standout. By the time we hit Thursday the 24th and into the final weekend, the energy drops right off, the period shortens to 12-14 seconds, and it’s back to poor conditions. The combined energy on the 26th is only 194, weak for sure.

So if you’re keen, pencil in that Saturday the 20th of September. It’s not huge, but it’s your best shot at something clean and with a bit of grunt for this forecast period.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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