Shipwrecks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

We’re looking at a pretty bleak stretch ahead for Shipwrecks. Honestly, the first nine days are a write-off for paddle surfing. The prevailing winds are mostly onshore or cross-onshore, killing any chance of clean waves. The swell is small and weak, and the only real bit of hope comes right at the very end of the run.

The pattern is a long, frustrating wait. From Wednesday the 26th of August right through to the morning of Thursday the 3rd of September, it’s all “poor surf conditions.” The wind is either blowing straight onshore or creating a nasty chop. Even when the swell bumps up a little on the 28th and 29th, the wind is ruining it. The combined swell energy on the 28th morning hits 606 (moderate) but it’s cross-onshore and choppy. Not worth your time.

The first day that even has a whisper of something is Saturday the 29th of August afternoon. The wind swings cross-offshore, and the break cleans up. The swell is 3 ft from the SSW, but it’s barely a 2/10 on the quality meter. Combine that with a weak energy reading of 919, and it’s a “maybe” for a desperate session. Sunday the 30th afternoon is similar – 5 ft from the SSW, cross-offshore wind, and clean. The energy is high at 767, but it’s still only a marginal call.

The one true standout that’s worth circling on your calendar is Friday the 4th of September morning. This is the best on offer. The wind goes glassy – a light southeasterly at 3 mph, which is a dead calm. The swell is 4 ft from the SSW with a long 17-second period, so there’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is a solid 764 (moderate). The conditions are “very good.” This is a window of clean, lined-up waves at Shipwrecks. It’s a reef and point setup, so that long period will wrap in nicely. The only hitch is that the crowd is listed as “often,” so expect company.

After that, it’s back to poor conditions. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.

The second week looks grim. Monday the 7th of September morning has a 20-second period swell at 2 ft with offshore winds from the NW, but it’s tiny. Then Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th see a bigger 5 ft to 5 ft swell from the S, but the period drops to 11 seconds, the wind is onshore, and the energy is strong (1263 and 1158), but it’s messy. That’s expert territory size-wise, but the wind is wrong. It’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddling one.

To sum it up: you’ve got a ten-day gap of nothing, then a single golden window on Friday morning the 4th of September. Make that session count.

-Rusty

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