Tennis Courts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

The next 16 days start with a bit of a wait. There’s a big pulse of wind-swell and storm-chop hitting the reef, but the wind is howling and the quality is terrible. You’re looking at a solid gap of nearly a week of no-go conditions before things start to clean up. The first real glimmer of hope comes on Monday 17th August morning, but it’s only marginal.

The standout window is late in the run, around Thursday 27th August through to the end of the month. That’s where the real story is. For now, we’re working through some messy cross-offshore gales and a lot of frustrated waiting.

Let’s start with the first break on offer.

Tennis Courts – a reef set-up, exposed to the swell, and it’s a fairly consistent wave for the advanced crew. The water’s sitting at 81°, which is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

The first days are a write-off. Saturday 15th August morning has a massive 12 ft swell from the ENE, but the wind is screaming 31 mph from the same direction, creating a cross-off mess. Wave energy is pumping (2445), but the surf quality is poor. It’s a no-go. The afternoon sees 15 ft from the E, still 31 mph wind, and it’s just a washing machine.

Sunday 16th is more of the same: 8 ft ENE swell, wind 22 mph from the ESE and cross-on. Lumpy and ugly. The afternoon drops to 7 ft but it’s choppy and cross-onshore.

Monday 17th morning is the first day that’s technically clean, with a 5 ft ENE swell and 16 mph ENE cross-off wind. The energy is moderate (756), but the period is short at 8 seconds – it’s basically wind-slop. The afternoon drops to 3 ft S swell with a beautiful 14-second period, but it’s too small for this exposed reef.

From Tuesday 18th through to Wednesday 26th, the swell is tiny and the period is all over the place. Winds are light to moderate, mostly cross-off or cross, but the wave heights rarely get above 4 ft. There’s a long-period SSW groundswell in there from the 20th, but it’s only 2 ft – not enough to push the reef. The energy values are weak (214–961). It’s a frustrating stretch of clean but flat conditions.

The real standout kicks off on Thursday 27th August. The morning shows 5 ft from the E with an 18-second period – that’s a proper long-period groundswell. The wind is 19 mph from the ENE, cross-off, and the combined energy is strong (2081). The afternoon holds the same size and period, wind still clean. The reef will handle that long period well, and with a cross-off breeze, the waves will be groomed and powerful. This is the best on offer.

Friday 28th and Saturday 29th maintain 5 ft from the E, period dropping from 18 to 15 seconds, but still quality. Energy stays above 1482. The wind is consistent cross-off, 19 mph. It’s going to be a solid, clean run of head-high plus waves for the advanced crew.

Sunday 30th August sees the swell bump up to 8 ft from the ENE, period 14 seconds. That’s into solid overhead territory, and with the cross-off wind, it’ll be powerful but still clean. This is expert-only size – too big for beginners. The energy is high (2069). It’s a serious end to the month.

Crowds can be an issue at Tennis Courts – it’s a spot that gets busy when it’s good, and this late-August window will have people keen. No doubt about it.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a total loss. The second week is tiny and clean but not surfable. The real gold is from Thursday 27th August through to the end of the month – a long-period E groundswell, cross-off winds, and solid size. That’s the one to circle.

Rusty.

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