Stent Road Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of swell ahead at Stent Road, a reef and point setup that handles a good SW groundswell. The water’s sitting at 59°, which is about a degree and a half warmer than usual for this time of year – nice, no need for a thick wetsuit.

The first few days are a bit of a write-off, honestly. Monday the 13th starts with rain showers and a cross-shore wind around 16 mph, only 4 ft of messy WSW swell. The energy is moderate (612), but the wind’s got it chopped up. Not worth paddling out. Tuesday the 14th morning looks better – clean conditions with a gentle cross-offshore breeze from the NNE, and 6 ft of NW swell. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it’ll be a bit crumbly and less powerful, but the clean surface makes it rideable. The energy jumps a bit (612). Tuesday arvo the wind swings cross-shore and the quality drops.

Now, Wednesday the 15th is where things get serious. We’ve got a big jump in swell – 10 ft from the WSW with a very long 16-second period. That’s a proper groundswell, and the energy is pumping at 4751. This is expert territory; too big for beginners. The wind is light cross-shore in the morning, but the period is so long that at a beach break it might bowl out, but Stent Road is a reef and point, so it should handle it – expect long, powerful lines. It’s a standout, even with the marginal forecast notes. The arvo stays big at 12 ft, but the wind goes cross-onshore.

Thursday the 16th hangs onto big swell – 10 ft in the morning, 8 ft in the arvo – but the wind is cross-onshore, making it lumpy. The energy is still strong (3524 and 2959), but it’s not clean. Friday the 17th through the weekend sees the swell drop a bit but the wind stays onshore or cross-onshore, so it’s mostly choppy and messy. A few morning windows on Friday with offshore wind (6 ft, WSW) but the energy is still high (1571) – worth a look if you’re keen.

The real standout arrives Monday the 20th. Morning brings a clean offshore breeze from the ESE, 6 ft of WSW swell with a 14-second period, and the energy is solid (1351). Light offshore winds – this is when Stent Road will be smooth and lined up. That’s your best pick in the first week. Tuesday the 21st drops to 5 ft and the wind picks up, still clean but smaller.

From Wednesday the 22nd, the swell fades to below 3 ft. The energy drops to 346 – weak. There’s a gap of a few days with small surf. But hold on – Thursday the 23rd morning brings a gentle offshore from the E, 3 ft of WSW swell with a 15-second period, energy back up to 613. Clean and glassy. Then Saturday the 25th morning has 5 ft of W swell, 8-second period, with a near-slick SE breeze – clean again. Not a standout but a fun little window.

The last big highlight is Sunday the 26th. Morning offshore from the E, 4 ft of WSW swell but with a very long 18-second period, energy at 1295. That’s a long-period groundswell – perfect for a reef like Stent Road, giving you long, smooth walls. That’s a promising one, even though it’s a week and a half out. The afternoon goes cross-shore but still rideable.

So, overall: the best of the bunch is Monday the 20th morning (clean, 6 ft, offshore), and the long-range standout is Sunday the 26th morning (clean, 4 ft, 18-second period). The mid-week big stuff on the 15th is for experts only. Keep an eye on the wind.

Rusty.

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