The Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break it down for The Cove.

We’ve got a proper dry spell to kick things off. From Sunday the 23rd of August right through the end of the month, it’s flat and ugly. The first real chance of a wave shows up on Thursday the 3rd of September, so you’re looking at a solid week of waiting. Don’t bother checking the cam until then.

That Thursday the 3rd of September is a mixed bag. The water temp is 14°, which is about 0.3° above normal, so nothing unusual. Thursday morning brings a 4ft swell from the W, with a period of 9 seconds and a combined energy of 231. It’s clean with a light cross-off breeze, so it’s surfable, but just barely. Thursday afternoon jumps to 7ft from the W, but the period drops to 6 seconds, making it weak and messy. The wind is still light and cross-off, so it’s clean, but the quality is poor.

Now, the real standout is Saturday the 5th of September. That’s the one. Saturday morning we’re looking at 8ft from the W, with a period of 11 seconds and a combined energy of 1446. That’s a powerful, moderate-to-strong groundswell with plenty of punch. The wind is nearly dead – just a slight air from the W – making it glassy and clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers only, as it’s pushing into the expert zone. The Cove is a reef break, and with this long-period swell, it’s going to handle that energy beautifully. The swell direction from the W is a perfect match for the optimum here. Expect the crowds to be a factor, as it’s a spot that can get busy, but for a morning like that, it’s worth it.

Sunday the 6th of September holds strong with 12ft from the W, but the period drops to 10 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 2078 on Sunday morning, with a light cross-on breeze, then cleans up nicely in the afternoon with a gentle cross-off breeze from the ESE. That afternoon session on Sunday is also excellent for experienced surfers – big, powerful, and clean. The energy is strong, and the waves will have serious power.

Into the second week, Monday the 7th of September keeps the swell running at 12ft from the NW, with a period of 10 seconds and a combined energy of 2224. It’s clean in the morning with a gentle cross-off, and by the afternoon, it turns offshore with a light breeze from the S, making for a glassy, excellent session. Again, this is expert territory.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a total loss. The best on offer is Saturday the 5th of September, with the morning being the pick of the week for clean, powerful, groundswell. The Cove is a reef, so it’s going to handle that long-period energy well. If you’re a solid intermediate, you can look at Thursday the 3rd, but the real quality is for the experienced crew on the weekend. It’s a promising stretch, but don’t get your hopes up until we hit September.

Rusty.

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