Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for us.

The next few days are a bit of a mixed bag, but we’ve got one standout session that’s got my heart thumping if you’re keen for a challenge. There’s a bit of a lull mid-week before the pulse returns, so let’s break it down.

We start off this Friday the 11th at Strand (Pipe). The water temp is right about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there. Friday morning has a lumpy 6ft SSE swell, period ticking along at 7 seconds. That short period means it’s pretty weak up close, the combined energy reading 563. It’s clean enough with cross-off winds, but nothing to get excited about – more of a knee-padder. That afternoon the swell bumps up to 7ft, but the period stays short, the wind picks up, and the energy’s still modest at 594. It’s a skunk for the rating.

Saturday the 12th is where things get interesting. Morning starts with a tiny 5ft swell, but check out the period: 15 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. The combined energy jumps to 1034, solid moderate energy. The wind is cross-off, so it’ll be clean, but that long period is going to make it stand-up and glassy at the right spots. Then Saturday afternoon... oh boy. We get a 6ft, 17-second SSW groundswell with offshore ESE breeze. The energy reading screams at 2130. That is strong wave energy, and the wind is offshore. This is a top-notch window for experienced surfers. The point break setup at Strand will handle this long-period swell much better than a beach break. It’s going to be lined up and hollow. This is your call for a proper session if you know what you’re doing. Crowds are *sometimes* an issue here, so expect company.

Sunday the 13th still has plenty on offer. Morning brings a 8ft SE swell with a 9-second period – a bit more grunty but less refined, combined energy at 1682. Cross-off wind keeps it tidy, and you’ve got excellent conditions noted for experienced crew. That’s our biggest wave height of the whole run, so if you’re a beginner, stay on the sand for this one. By afternoon it drops back to 4ft but with a lovely 14-second SSW pulse, making for very good surf conditions with light breeze.

Now, we hit a dry patch. Monday the 14th through to Tuesday the 15th is pretty much a bust. Strong NW winds, lumpy cross-onshore chop, and poor surf across the board. There’s a few days gap with nothing worth paddling out for.

Wednesday the 16th sees a return. The morning is clean with a 7ft SW swell, 14 seconds, and the energy is cranked up to 3103 – that’s strong to very strong energy. Cross-off wind. It’s labelled as marginal for tide, but that is serious power. Not for the faint-hearted. If you’re an expert and the tide lines up, this could be a beast. Afternoon is a bit smaller at 4ft.

We settle into a more mellow run from Thursday the 17th through to the weekend. Clean conditions, moderate cross-off breezes, and swells in the 3ft to 6ft range. The period hangs mostly around 12 to 16 seconds, so the quality is there for some fun lines, especially with the light winds. The energy readings bounce between 596 and 2551, so you’ve got usable juice.

Sunday the 20th afternoon is a standout within this block: a 5ft SSW swell, 14 seconds, moderate cross-shore, but with a beefy energy of 1592. It won’t be perfect, but there’s plenty of push.

Monday the 22nd and Tuesday the 23rd get messy again with strong winds and poor conditions – another lull of a couple of days.

But then, Thursday the 24th morning delivers a gem: 4ft SSW swell at 14 seconds, very good surf conditions, with a gentle offshore ESE breeze. Clean lines and manageable size for intermediate surfers. That’s a solid session.

And if you can hold out, Friday the 25th is your other absolute standout. Morning is glassy, zero wind, 5ft SSW groundswell, 13 seconds. Combined energy of 736. Glassy conditions with that long period is a dream. That afternoon stays clean with light offshore breeze. This is very good surf. No crowds mentioned here, so you might have it nearly to yourself if you’re early.

By Saturday the 26th, it’s back to fresh NW cross-shore winds and a small 3ft swell – back to the shorebreak lull.

Keep an eye on Saturday the 12th afternoon for the big, clean groundswell, and Friday the 25th morning for the glassy perfection. The long-period swells favour the point and reef setups around here, so aim for those.

For the record, that 8ft on Sunday the 13th is pushing expert territory, and the 7ft on Wednesday the 16th is serious power – not for learners.

Rusty.

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