Shipwrecks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got a bit of a mixed bag for you over the next couple of weeks. We’re looking at Shipwrecks, a reef and point set-up that’s fairly consistent and exposed to swell from the south. The water’s sitting at 87°F – that’s a whopping 6°F warmer than usual for this time of year, so it’s like a warm bath out there. Unusual stuff.

The surf kicks off Saturday the 25th of July, but don’t get your hopes up – it’s pretty ordinary. Saturday morning has a meek 3ft swell from the SW with a solid 20-second period, but it’s cross-on and choppy, so it’s a pass. The afternoon cleans up a bit, turning cross-off with a 4ft SW swell, but the combined energy is moderate (1246) and the commentary says “marginal” – it’s a maybe if you’re desperate.

Sunday the 26th is still nothing to write home about: 4ft from the SSW, but cross-shore winds and chop make it messy. Monday the 27th sees a jump in size to 6ft from the SSE, but the period drops to 12 seconds and the onshore wind ruins it. The combined energy is strong (2052), but it’s just poor conditions.

Now, the standout window is Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th. Tuesday afternoon is the pick of the whole forecast: an 8ft SSW swell with a 16-second period, cross-off wind, and clean conditions. The combined energy hits 4451 – that’s strong to very strong. This is proper groundswell with long gaps between sets, and at a reef and point, it should hold up well. The only catch is, at 8ft, it’s pushing into expert territory. Wednesday morning is also solid with a 7ft SSW swell, 16 seconds, and light cross-shore winds – combined energy of 2309. The wind is light, so it’ll be clean enough. This is the best on offer, no doubt.

After that, it drops off. Thursday the 30th has a 4ft swell but it’s cross-on, then Friday the 31st and the first weekend of August are tiny – 2ft to 2ft. The combined energy drops below 400, and it’s all poor. There’s a gap of several days with no real surf here. Monday the 3rd of August is a write-off, and Tuesday the 4th is even worse at 1ft. The entire second week is weak, with only a few pulses of 3ft coming through around the 8th and 9th of August, but the period is long and the winds are average. It’s not worth chasing.

So, the call is clear: if you’re an experienced surfer, hit Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning – that’s your window. For everyone else, this is a long, quiet stretch. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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