The Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a quiet start. The first real chance of a wave comes in on Saturday the 11th, but to be honest, it’s pretty ordinary. The Cove is seeing a 4ft swell from the west, but the wind is a messy cross-shore and the energy is only moderate (273). It’s really just a marginal session at best, and the water temp is sitting at 55°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year.

Things don’t improve much through Sunday the 12th or Monday the 13th. The swell drops right off, barely pushing 2ft, and while the wind goes a little cross-offshore, the wave energy is weak (70 and under). It’s surfable if you’re desperate, but it’s not something you’d paddle out for.

Now, Tuesday the 14th is where it gets a little more interesting. The swell is still small at 3ft, but the period jumps to 12 seconds, which is proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is moderate (242), and the morning wind is light and cross-off. That’s a clean window for an intermediate session at The Cove, a reef break that handles a longer period swell well. It’s not a standout, but it’s the best of a fairly average run.

After that, we hit a real dry spell. From Wednesday the 15th right through to Saturday the 26th, the surf is mostly tiny, under 2ft, and the winds are often onshore or cross-on. There’s a lot of clean, glassy conditions, but with barely any swell to push it. The crowd factor at The Cove is “sometimes,” so you’d have it to yourself, but there’s just nothing to ride.

The one bright spot in the long-range is Saturday the 25th. The morning has a light offshore wind from the south, with a 3ft swell from the WNW and a clean surface. Then by the afternoon, it goes glassy with a 3ft west swell and 10-second period. That afternoon session looks like a proper little gem – clean, glassy, and the energy is moderate (188). It’s not big, but it’s the best wave quality on offer across the whole outlook.

The very end of the run, on Sunday the 26th, picks up a bit more size – 5ft in the morning and 5ft in the afternoon – but the wind gets messy and strong, making it a lumpy, choppy affair. That’s more a kite surfer’s setup than a paddle session.

So, if you’re patient, the real standout is the afternoon of Saturday the 25th. Glassy, clean, and a little pulse of west swell. That’s the one to pencil in. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or too far off to get excited about.

Rusty.

Read more