Tennis Courts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, the first few days are a bit of a write-off. Tennis Courts is a top-tier reef break, advanced stuff, and it's exposed to the swell, but we've got a run of poor surf conditions from Thursday the 6th right through the weekend. The swell is tiny and coming from the SSW, not its optimum SSE direction, with a moderate to fresh cross-off breeze. The combined energy is weak (165) and the waves are just not there. The water is about average for the time of year.

We start to see a glimmer of hope on Sunday the 9th. The swell direction swings around to the ENE, and the size jumps to 5ft to 7ft, but the period is a short, weak 6 to 7 seconds. The combined energy climbs into the moderate range (up to 705), but it's still flagged as marginal. The wind's still a fresh cross-off, so it's messy. This pattern of marginal, short-period, cross-off swell holds through the middle of the week, with the energy staying in the moderate zone.

The real standout, the one you should circle on the calendar, is Thursday the 20th of August. The swell switches back to the SSW, but the wind drops right out. We're talking a light breeze from the NE at 6 mph, and the forecast says "expect good surf conditions." The swell is a clean 2ft, coming from the SSW. The energy is still moderate (364), but the conditions are lining up. The following morning, Friday the 21st of August, is the absolute best of the best. It's glassy, with a WSW wind of just 3 mph, and the same 2ft of swell from the S. The period is 13 seconds, which is a lovely groundswell that will wrap perfectly into this reef. The combined energy is 340. This is the one. It's a reef break, so it's for experienced surfers, but with that glassy surface and a clean, long-period groundswell, it's going to be session of the fortnight. No crowds likely on a weekday.

For the rest of the second week, there's a pulse of bigger ENE windswell from the 15th to the 18th, but it's over 7ft and up to 8ft, which is expert-only territory. The wind is a strong breeze, making it a real battle. The energy is strong (over 1000 on the 17th), but the quality just isn't there for a clean paddle surf. It's a beach-and-reef setup, and with the strong winds and big, short-period swell, it honestly looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a slow grind. The best windows are that Thursday morning the 20th and the glassy Friday morning the 21st of August. Get on it.

Rusty.

Read more