The Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and let’s get straight into it. The next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag for The Cove. We’ve got a real burst of energy mid-week, but the window is narrow, and the back half of the run looks pretty lackluster. Hang tight, because there’s one standout session that’s worth circling on the calendar.

We kick off on Tuesday, the 28th of July. Nothing to get too excited about yet. The morning has a 4ft N swell, but it’s a bit ordinary with a moderate breeze from the SE. The afternoon cleans up a little with a SSW breeze, and we’re looking at clean surf, but the energy is just moderate (442). The water’s sitting at 56°F, which is dead average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Wednesday the 29th is where it gets interesting. The morning brings a solid 8ft W swell with a 10-second period. That’s a decent groundswell, and the combined energy is pumping at 1117 – strong stuff. The wind is cross-off from the SW, so the waves will be clean. This is a big swell though, over 8ft, so this is expert territory. If you’re not comfortable in heavy water, give it a miss. The afternoon drops to 6ft from the W, but the wind swings onshore and the period drops to 8 seconds, so it gets a bit rougher.

Thursday the 30th is a write-off. The swell drops, the wind is messy, and the surf conditions are poor. Friday the 31st isn’t much better – small, weak waves around 4ft and 3ft, but at least the wind is cross-off, so the water looks clean. The energy is weak (150 and 102), so it’s more of a longboard or a day off.

The first weekend of August is a downer. Saturday morning has a 6ft swell, but it’s short-period and the wind is howling at 16 mph. It’s clean but messy. Sunday is similar – 6ft from the W, but the period is short and the wind is cross-shore. Not worth the drive.

From Monday the 3rd of August through to the 12th, it’s pretty grim. The swell drops consistently, mostly under 3ft, with weak energy readings (often under 100) and persistent cross-onshore or cross-shore winds. The only slight glimmer is on Monday the 10th of August, when we get a small 4ft NNW swell and a 5-second period, but with a clean offshore wind from the SSE. The energy is still weak (163), so it’s more of a novelty wave than a proper session.

The standout for the whole period is without a doubt Wednesday morning, the 29th of July at The Cove. That 8ft W swell, with a 10-second period and clean cross-off wind, is your best bet. The combined energy is strong at 1117, and the direction is right on the optimum. It’s a reef break, so it will handle that long-period energy well, and the water is about average for the season. Just be aware, it’s over 8ft, so it’s for experts only. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.

Other than that, the rest of the run is a long, flat stretch. From the 31st of July through to the 12th of August, there are no real winners. The surf quality is poor, the energy is weak, and the wind is rarely your friend. This is a classic case of a big swell coming through, then nothing for a week and a half. The forecasts can change, but for now, Wednesday the 29th is your day.

Rusty.

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