Stela Maris Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the outlook for Stela Maris is a tough one. For the entire 16-day window, we're looking at a real run of poor conditions. The wind is a persistent problem; it's coming from the east and northeast, mostly cross-onshore or onshore, which is just mucking up the surface. The swell is coming from the east and southeast, a mix of short-period windswell, and the energy is all over the shop, from a weak 118 (combined energy) to a moderate 762 (combined energy), but it doesn't matter because the wind is just ruining it.

We don't get a single day where the surf quality is worth writing home about. The first few days, from Monday the 31st of August right through the first week of September, are all "poor surf conditions" with a score of zero. By Wednesday morning the 2nd of September, we see a bit of a bump in swell to 6ft from the east, with a period of 9 seconds and a moderate energy of 762 (combined energy), but it's a cross-shore wind from the NNE, so it's still messy and only gets a "marginal" rating. That's about as close as we get to a pulse.

The pattern just keeps repeating. There's a glimmer on Friday morning the 4th of September, with a light cross-onshore breeze and a 4ft swell from the east, but again, it's marginal. The wind just never cleans up properly. We get another similar look on Saturday morning the 5th of September and again on Sunday morning the 6th of September, but the swell is dropping and the wind is never truly offshore. The best we can hope for is a very short, choppy session when the wind is lightest, but it's a gamble.

Looking further out, the second week is more of the same. The wind stays a problem. The swell pushes back up to 5ft and 6ft from the east-southeast on the 10th and 13th of September, but the onshore and cross-onshore winds are fresh and strong, making it a total washout. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Honestly, between the persistent onshore flow and the short-period, choppy swell, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The consistent east wind is a big factor.

For a solid 16-day stretch, there's just no standout. If you're desperate, keep an eye on those mornings when the wind is lightest, like the 4th, 5th, and 6th, but don't expect much else. This is a long blank run for Stela Maris.

Rusty

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