The Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Gonna be a frustrating stretch ahead, so let’s get into it.

We’re looking at a solid run of poor surf conditions for The Cove for the first week and a half. The wind is relentless from the west and north-west, mostly cross or cross-onshore, keeping things choppy and messy. The swell is hanging around 3ft to 4ft from the WNW, but the combo energy is weak to moderate (134 to 216) and the short period means barely any push. You’ll be scratching your head out there from Friday the 17th right through to the end of the first week.

On Monday the 21st, the swell jumps to 6ft but the wind is a fresh 22 mph cross-shore, so it’s a lumpy mess. The combined energy climbs to 284, so there’s juice, but it’s not surfable. This continues into Wednesday the 23rd, with the swell dropping back and the wind still onshore or cross.

Now, the first real glimmer comes on Sunday the 26th of July. The wind swings to a light SW cross-off on the morning, with a solid 6ft swell from the west. The combined energy is 504, so moderate power, and the water is about average for the time of year. The afternoon goes light cross-onshore, but the morning is clean. It’s still marginal, but it’s a start.

The standout is Monday the 27th of July. This is the one to circle. We’ve got an 8ft swell from the WNW with a long period of 11 to 12 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The combined energy is huge at 1349 to 1588, strong wave energy. The wind is light ESE, cross-off, and it’s clean. This is expert-level stuff – 8ft is too big for anyone but experienced surfers. The long period will make it a bit straight at the beach, but at The Cove, a reef setup, it’ll handle that energy well. The crowds are sometimes there, so you might have some company. This is the best on offer, no question.

After that, Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th drop back to 7ft and 4ft, but the wind turns onshore from the north, so it’s back to poor conditions. The last days of July and into August 1st see a shift – a small 6ft swell from the north, with glassy conditions on the morning of the 31st of July and the 1st of August. The combined energy is moderate (381 to 259), and the wind is slight, so it’s clean. But the period is short at 7 seconds, so it’s not going to be amazing. Still, a fun glassy session if you’re keen.

So, to sum it up: the first week and a half is a write-off. Hang in there. Monday the 27th of July is the standout – big, powerful, clean groundswell for experts. The mornings of the 31st of July and 1st of August offer a smaller, glassy option for the patient.

Rusty.

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