Spot x Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

We've got a long run of surf on the horizon, but we're in for a slow start. The first week or so is going to be a bit of a slog for most of us, with one very clear standout window for the experts later on. The water is sitting at 68° which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so you can leave the thick steamer at home.

The first few days are a write-off. Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th are a total mess with strong onshore winds and building swell, just poor conditions all around. You won't see me out there.

The first real possibility comes Wednesday morning, the 5th of August. Spot x (reef) is showing a solid 15ft swell from the WSW with a 16-second period, but it's still onshore. The wave energy is massive (10372), but it's just not clean. The afternoon looks a little better with the wind easing to a light cross-on, giving it a clean score, but it's still a bit of a handful.

Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th are a write-off again with strong cross-shore winds and stormy conditions, and the swell is just too big and unorganized.

Now, here's the big one. Saturday the 8th of August is the standout. The swell is a monster. We're looking at 20ft from the SW early, pushing to 18ft in the afternoon, with a 16-second period and a phenomenal combined energy of over 16000. The file says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. That's not a warning, that's a heads-up to the crew who know what they're doing. This is expert-only territory. The wind is a moderate cross-on, which is a shame, but the sheer power of the groundswell is going to make this a day to remember. If you're not a solid expert, stay on the beach and watch.

The rest of the first week and into the second is a mix of too big, too windy, or just plain messy. Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th are a no-go due to massive swell and strong winds.

The next real standout is Wednesday the 12th of August. The morning is calling for a 16ft swell from the SW with a 16-second period, and the wind is a light cross-offshore from the NNE. The energy is still huge (12727), but the conditions are clean. This is exceptional surf for expert surfers. The afternoon is a bit more onshore, so hit the dawn patrol.

Thursday the 13th of August morning is a treat. The swell drops to 10ft from the SW, and the wind goes glassy. Zero wind. That's a major positive. The period is still a long 14 seconds, so it's a proper groundswell, but a reef break like this will handle it beautifully. It's a clean, fun size for experienced surfers.

The weekend of the 15th and 16th of August looks really promising. Saturday the 15th has a clean 13ft WSW swell with a fresh offshore E wind, building to a moderate offshore in the afternoon. Sunday the 16th is the true gem of the second week. Morning has a 15ft WSW swell with a 16-second period, and the wind is a moderate offshore from the NE. The afternoon is even better: 13ft, 16-second period, clean and light, with a score that's off the charts. This is another exceptional window for the experts.

The final days, Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th, are still solid with clean conditions and manageable 12ft to 15ft swell, but they're not quite the standouts of the earlier days.

So, to wrap it up: the absolute best on offer is Saturday the 8th of August for the sheer power, but it's strictly for experts. The next best window, and the most accessible for experienced surfers, is Sunday the 16th of August through to the end of the run. The crowds at Spot x are said to be *sometimes* a factor, so pick your session wisely.

Rusty.

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