Shipwrecks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what we’ve got.

Shipwrecks is the only break on the cards for the next 16 days, and honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The water is sitting at 88° which is way warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a bit of a talking point.

We kick off on Tuesday 8th, but it’s a flat start. Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th are tiny – like 2ft to 3ft – and the conditions are either cross-on or onshore, so there’s nothing worth paddling out for yet.

Thursday afternoon on the 10th is where it gets interesting. The wind swings to a light offshore from the NNW, and we get 3ft of SW swell at a very long 16 seconds. The energy is moderate (414). That’s clean, it’s got some shape, and for a reef and point like Shipwrecks, that long period groundswell should wrap in nicely. The tide could be a factor, but this is the standout of the whole run.

Friday morning the 11th is glassy with 2ft and a 15-second period – that’s a real treat for the early crew. The energy is moderate (347). If you can get out Thursday arvo or Friday morning, you’re looking at the best conditions of the fortnight.

After that, we drop back into smaller, cleaner but unremarkable surf through the weekend into early next week. Saturday and Sunday have tiny waves, 1ft to 2ft, with glassy or very light wind, but not enough push to get excited about.

Then on Monday 14th afternoon, things change. We get a jump to 6ft of short-period SSE swell at just 7 seconds, with a moderate breeze from the WSW. That’s a lot of weak, choppy energy (548), but with that period and side-off wind, it’s gonna be junky. That’s more of a kite-skipper’s session than a surfer’s wave – too steep and fast for a beach setup, but at a reef-point it’ll be a messy close-out for most.

From Tuesday 15th right through to Wednesday 23rd, we’re stuck in a loop of 2ft to 3ft SW to SSW swell, periods between 14 and 19 seconds, and mostly cross-on winds. The energy stays moderate but the wave comments flag a lot of marginal or poor conditions. There’s nothing else that really stands out as a banger. Crowds at Shipwrecks are often around, so with small waves and ordinary conditions, it might be a quiet week.

So, if you’re looking for the best wave in the window, it’s Thursday afternoon 10 September and Friday morning 11 September. Clean offshore or glassy, long-period groundswell, and waist-to-chest high. After that, the surf is small and the conditions are average until the very end of the run. Not a classic stretch, but a couple of sessions worth saving.

Rusty.

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