Tennis Courts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about Tennis Courts. This reef setup is exposed to the swell, and it’s an advanced wave. The water temperature is sitting at 80°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year – nothing unusual there.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first few days are a bit of a write-off really. Thursday the 10th sees some chest-high swell, around 5ft, but it’s coming from the ENE with a short, weak period of 7 seconds and the wind is a cross-off. The combined energy is moderate (468), but honestly, the quality just isn’t there. It’s a marginal call at best. Friday morning the 11th drops right off, down to 2ft, though the period jumps to 16 seconds from the SW. That long period groundswell carries some energy (474), but the size is tiny. The wind stays cross-off. It’s not really doing much.

Saturday the 12th is another small day. The afternoon sees a little 2ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period, and the wind drops to a light breeze from the NE. The energy is weak (222). It’s clean, but there’s just not enough push. Sunday and Monday are even smaller, with energy dropping to triple digits. We’re talking knee-high at best, and the wind is a moderate cross-off. Pretty flat.

Tuesday the 15th and Wednesday the 16th see a slight bump, with the swell building to 2ft and then 3ft. The period stays long, around 18-20 seconds, and the energy climbs into the strong range – 764 and 917 respectively. But the wind is still a cross-off, and the wave comment keeps saying “marginal”. It’s promising for the long period, but the size and wind aren’t clicking.

Now, Thursday the 17th throws a bit of a curveball. The swell jumps to 6ft from the ENE, but the period drops to a short 9 seconds. The wind howls at 22 mph cross-off, and the energy is strong (970). This is a choppy, junky mess. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Friday the 18th has a similar story: 3ft of SSW groundswell at 17 seconds, but with 22-25 mph cross-off wind and a massive energy of 1229. It’s powerful, but blown out.

The next week, from the 19th to the 22nd, is a real grind. Swell is small, mostly 2ft to 4ft, and the wind is a persistent cross-off. The energy is moderate to strong, but the surf quality is consistently poor or marginal. Not a single standout.

Then, finally, a glimmer. Wednesday the 23rd afternoon. The swell is a solid 5ft from the east at 10 seconds, but the wind goes nearly glassy – a slight air from the NNE at just 3 mph. The energy is strong (858), and the forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is the best on offer. The wind is cross-off, so it’ll be clean and lined up. This is a late-afternoon session to circle.

The final couple of days, the 24th and 25th, see a shift to a SSW wind, 6 mph or less. The swell drops to 3ft from the SSW, but the period is still a long 14-16 seconds. The energy is moderate (670-545). The wind is onshore or cross-onshore, so it’ll be a bit bumpy, but the long period means there’ll be some shape. It’s a marginal call, but if you’re desperate, it’s surfable.

So, the one true standout in this 16-day window is the afternoon of Wednesday the 23rd. That’s your session. The rest is a lot of waiting for the wind to play nice, or just dealing with small, choppy conditions. Crowds are “sometimes” an issue here, so for that Wednesday afternoon session, expect a few other keen locals to have the same idea.

Rusty.

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