Te Ikaamaru Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Te Ikaamaru Bay over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you, mate – it’s a pretty bleak run for most of it. The near-term has some serious wind issues, and the swell is all over the shop. The water temp is sitting at 54°, which is pretty much bang on for the time of year.

We start off on Saturday the 22nd of August, and there’s no real surf to speak of. You’ve got a 6ft NW swell, but it’s being hammered by a strong 28 mph NNW wind, making it a write-off. The combined energy is moderate at 278, but it’s all for nothing. That pattern of strong onshore winds just keeps on going for days. Sunday the 23rd even sees a 10ft swell with a combined energy of 1367, but that’s a full-on near gale from the NW, so it’s a total mess. This is one for the kite surfers, not us paddle guys.

The poor conditions drag on through the rest of August. There’s a brief moment on Monday the 31st of August in the morning where the wind swings to a light 12 mph S cross-off, and the swell is a tiny 3ft. It’s clean, but it’s barely a ripple. The afternoon gets a bit better with a 5ft NW swell and a light 6 mph SSW cross-off, and the combined energy is a weak 202. The file says the waves are surfable but very ordinary. It’s not a standout, but it’s the first real chance of a paddle in weeks.

Now, things start to look a little more promising as we head into September. On Wednesday the 2nd of September, the morning sees a 7ft NW swell with a 16 mph SSE cross-off wind. The combined energy is strong at 429. The wind is off, and it’s clean. The afternoon is the real highlight though. We get a 8ft NW swell, a 19 mph SSE offshore wind, and the combined energy jumps to 704. That’s a solid, clean setup, and the period is a moderate 7 seconds. This is the best on offer for the whole forecast. The swell is getting a bit big for beginners, but for the rest of us, with offshore winds and that kind of energy, it’s the one to target.

After that, the wind gets messy again. Thursday the 3rd of September is back to onshore slop, and it stays average for a few days. Then, into the weekend of the 5th and 6th of September, we see another change. On Saturday the 5th, the morning has a 7ft NW swell with a 22 mph S cross-off, and the combined energy is 434. The wind is clean, but it’s a strong breeze. Then Sunday the 6th of September brings the biggest swell of the run. The morning has a 10ft NNW swell, an 8-second period, and a combined energy of 899. The wind is a 25 mph SSE cross-off, so it’s clean, but that’s a serious size. The afternoon is even bigger, with the same swell and wind, but the combined energy hits 1237. This is only for experienced surfers. It’s a long way out, so the forecast is less certain, but it’s one to watch.

So, to sum it up: the first ten days are pretty much a write-off. The standout is without a doubt the afternoon of Wednesday the 2nd of September. The second option, if you’re an expert, is the weekend of the 5th and 6th, but keep an eye on those winds.

Rusty.

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