Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

We’re looking at a patchy stretch ahead. The first real standout is a beauty of a session on Monday the 7th of September. The surf is going to be clean and inviting with a 5ft SSW swell and a 14-second period—that’s a proper groundswell, full of energy. The water is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 57°, about 3° cooler than usual, so you’ll want a good wetsuit. The combined energy is a solid 754 (moderate wave energy), and with glassy conditions in the morning, it’s going to be a treat. Strand (Pipe) is a beach and reef setup, exposed to the SW, and the optimum swell direction is SW, so it’s a perfect match. The wind is offshore from the west at just 3 mph in the morning, turning to a light cross-off in the afternoon. This is the best on offer for the whole outlook—clean, shapely waves, and crowds are only possible, so you might even get a few to yourself.

Tuesday the 8th of September is smaller but still fun. The swell drops to 3ft from the S with a 266 (weak to moderate) combined energy, and the morning glass-off from the NW will make it clean. Not a standout, but a good day for a longboard.

Things get interesting again on Thursday the 10th of September. The morning brings a solid 6ft SW swell with a very long 16-second period, packing a punch with 1552 (strong wave energy) combined energy. This is excellent surf but only for experienced surfers—it’s big and powerful, and the long period means it will bend and throw at the reef. The wind is a clean cross-off from the SE. It’s a proper session for the crew who know what they’re doing. The afternoon drops to 5ft but is still very good.

Friday the 11th of September is a tricky one. The swell jumps to 7ft from the SSE, but the period is a short, weak 7 seconds. That’s a windswell, not a groundswell, and the combined energy is 804 (moderate), but it’s just not going to have any shape. The 16 mph SE wind is cross-off, keeping it clean, but the short period makes it look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. It’s marginal.

Saturday the 12th of September is a solid call. The morning is clean with a 4ft SW swell, 14-second period, and 579 (moderate) energy. The afternoon is the real standout here: 5ft SW swell with a 16-second period, combined energy of 1134 (strong)—this is excellent surf for experienced surfers again. The wind is a light cross-off, so expect clean, powerful lines.

After that, the outlook turns grim. From Sunday the 13th of September through to the end of the period, the wind turns onshore, cross-on, or just plain messy. There’s a gap of several days with no real recommendations. The swell shows up, like a 8ft SW swell on Tuesday the 15th of September, but with 28 mph cross-on wind, it’s a total write-off—just a washing machine. Even the bigger pulses later in the window, like the 7ft SSW swell on Wednesday the 16th of September (with 4498 combined energy—very strong), are ruined by strong cross-shore winds. By the time we get to the 22nd of September, the swell is tiny and weak.

So, to sum it up: Monday the 7th of September is the pick of the entire 16 days—clean, glassy, waist-high fun with a real groundswell feel. Thursday the 10th and Saturday the 12th are also excellent for the experienced crew. After that, it’s a long wait for anything decent.

Rusty.

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