Shipwrecks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Shipwrecks.

First off, the water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there. We’ve got a bit of a slow start, to be honest. The next few days are looking pretty average, with a lot of onshore and cross-onshore winds messing with the surface. The swell is small and weak, and the wave energy is moderate at best, around 400 to 700 (moderate energy). It’s not looking like one for the quiver just yet.

Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th are a write-off – small, choppy, and cross-onshore. Not worth paddling out for. Tuesday the 25th has a bit of a chance with some light SE winds in the morning, but the swell is still tiny at 3 ft from the SSW. It’s marginal, but there might be a sneaky one if you’re desperate.

The real standout, and I mean the only real standout in this whole 16-day window, is shaping up for Thursday the 28th of August into Friday the 29th of August. Thursday afternoon sees a clean, cross-offshore wind from the WSW, with a 4 ft SSW swell at a very long 18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, with 860 (moderate wave energy) behind it. This is a reef and point break, so that long period will wrap in nicely. Friday morning is also looking promising with a 4 ft, 16-second SSW swell and light offshore SE winds. It’s a bit inconsistent, but when it comes, it’ll be clean. Just keep in mind Shipwrecks can get crowded.

After that, we go into a bit of a lull again. The first week of September is mostly poor, with onshore winds and messy conditions. There’s a lot of chop and cross-chop, not a lot of fun. The swell energy picks up a bit, but the wind ruins it.

Then, on Sunday the 6th of September, things get serious. The swell jumps to 10 ft from the SSE, but it’s a short period of 11 seconds and cross-onshore. That’s a lot of water moving, but it’ll be a washing machine. 2404 (strong wave energy) is a lot of power, but it’s not the kind of clean power you want. This is for experts only – way too big for beginners. Monday the 7th is similar, with 10 ft from the SSW, but lighter winds, so it might clean up a touch. Still, it’s a big, powerful, and messy swell.

Honestly, for the next 16 days, the best bet is that window around Thursday the 28th and Friday the 29th of August. That’s your window for a clean, long-period groundswell at Shipwrecks. The rest is a bit of a gamble with the wind. A few days look like they’d be better for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, especially when the wind is strong and the swell is messy.

Stay stoked, and keep your eyes on the forecast.

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