Shipwrecks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Well, let me tell you, it’s been a bit of a frustrating stretch out at Shipwrecks (Big Island). I’ve been staring at the charts and the ocean is just... flat. We’ve got a solid 16-day window here, but for the first part of it, you're going to be weighing anchors, not paddling out.

For the first several days, through the 25th of August, the surf is going to be poor. We’re talking ankle-biters, and the wind is just making a mess of things. Most mornings have that cross-onshore breeze that chops everything up, and the afternoons aren’t much better with the cross-shore winds. The swell energy is weak, checking in anywhere from 169 to 507, with the waves struggling to hit even 4ft. It’s the kind of stuff that gets your hopes up when you look at the buoy, but then you get out there and it’s just sectiony and lumpy. Don’t bother.

The poor conditions will persist right through the end of August and into the first few days of September. There’s a bit more size around the 28th of August, with the swell pushing to 4ft, and the energy jumps up to a solid 867. That’s the first sign of something real, but the winds are still cross-shore and onshore, so it’s going to be messy. It’s a frustrating tease. The combined energy is moderate, but the quality just isn’t there. We’ll see a lot of wind chop and walls closing out. It’s not going to be much fun.

Things start to look a little more interesting on the 3rd of September. We’ve got a cleaner, longer-period swell coming in from the SSW at 5ft, with a period hitting 18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, and the energy reading is up there at 849. The wind is still cross-shore, but it’s lighter. It’s still not perfect, but for a reef and point setup like Shipwrecks, that long period is what you want. It won’t be breaking too straight, but there could be some clean lines on the right tide. I’d say it’s a marginal call, but it’s the best we’ve seen all run. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so you won't need the thickest suit.

Honestly, the real standout might just be the 4th of September. The swell drops back slightly to 5ft, but the period stays long at 18 seconds. The energy is still strong at 849. The wind, however, is the issue. It’s still cross-shore. For a spot that likes a bit of a groomed swell, it’s going to be a session of picking off the better sets, but there’s potential. It’s a far cry from the early days of the forecast. The bottom line is, we’ve got a long, flat spell ahead, with the last few days offering the only glimmer of hope. Don't get too excited about anything else.

Alright, that’s the long-range look. It’s a waiting game for now.

Rusty.

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