Stent Road Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the table for the next two and a half weeks. The whole picture is a bit of a wild ride, with some absolute monsters on the way, but the windows with clean, manageable conditions are going to be very narrow. For a spot like Stent Road, a real solid reef and point setup, you need the wind to play nice, and that’s the challenge.

Right now, we’re kicking off on Friday morning, August 21st. There’s a bit of a swell pushing in at 5ft from the WSW, with a period of 13 seconds. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year. The wind is onshore though, so it’s going to be a bit of a mess. The energy is moderate (904), nothing to get too excited about. Friday afternoon is even worse with poor surf.

Saturday and Sunday are write-offs. The wind is onshore and strong, and by Sunday the swell jumps to 15ft. That’s big, expert-only territory, and with a fresh breeze on it, it’s just a closeout. Then Monday, August 24th, is where it gets really gnarly. We’re looking at a massive 16ft WSW groundswell with a very long period of 15 seconds. The combined energy is a staggering 10887 (strong to very strong). This is a proper big-wave event. The problem is the cross-onshore wind, so it’s going to be lumpy and messy. Only for the most experienced, and even then, it’s a battle.

Things settle down a touch on Tuesday and Wednesday, still big with 10ft and 8ft swells, but the wind is onshore. The quality is still poor. The real hope starts to build on Thursday, August 27th. The swell drops to a more manageable 7ft from the W, and the period is a solid 13 seconds. The wind shifts to a cross-offshore from the North, which is a major positive. The afternoon session is looking clean. This is the first real standout window. The energy is moderate (1497), but with clean conditions, it’s the best we’ve seen all week.

Then we get hit with another strong front on Friday, August 28th. The wind is howling from the North at 28 mph, and the swell is 10ft, making it a complete mess. Not worth it.

The weekend of August 29th-30th sees the swell fade back down to 4ft to 5ft, which is a nice size, but the wind is either onshore or cross-onshore, so the quality is still marginal. The period on Sunday afternoon is a very long 20 seconds, which is incredible for a point break, but the onshore wind will ruin it.

Now, here’s the real gem. Monday, August 31st and Tuesday, September 1st. The swell is around 5ft to 6ft from the WSW, with a period of 14 seconds. The wind is a perfect cross-offshore from the North-Northeast. This is going to be clean. The energy is moderate (1663 to 2183). This is the best period on offer. Tuesday morning the swell kicks up to 12ft, but with that clean cross-off wind, it’s still a solid option for advanced surfers.

After that, it’s a bit of a mess again. Wednesday, September 2nd, sees the wind swing back onshore and the swell jumps to 15ft. Then Thursday, September 3rd, we have another massive groundswell event: 18ft from the WSW with a very long period of 15 seconds. The energy is a massive 14408. The wind is cross-onshore, so it’s messy big-wave stuff again. The final few days of the forecast (September 4th-5th) see the swell drop back to a more manageable 8ft and then 3ft, but with onshore winds, it’s a forgettable end.

So, the standout? It’s got to be Monday, August 31st, and Tuesday, September 1st. The swell is a friendly 5ft to 6ft from the WSW, right in the optimum direction for the reef, and the wind is clean cross-offshore. That’s the window to get a good session in. The Saturday morning, August 29th, with 4ft swell is also a decent backup, but the wind is a bit cross-onshore, so it won’t be as perfect.

Given the massive swells and strong winds, this setup will be far more interesting for kite surfers than paddle surfers on the bigger days, especially at a beach break. But for those of you who can paddle, keep your eyes on that last week of August and the first of September.

Rusty.

Read more