The Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for The Cove over the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a pretty messy start ahead, with a lot of wind and chop to deal with. The water temperature is sitting at 57°, which is about normal for this time of year. The first real chance for a surf doesn’t show up until Wednesday the 2nd of September, but even then it’s only marginal. That afternoon, we’ve got a 8ft swell from the NNW with a period of 11 seconds, giving us a solid but not massive amount of energy (1335). The wind is light and cross-onshore, so there’ll be a few ripples on the face, but it’s more of a “maybe” session than a standout.

The wind gets nasty on Friday the 4th of September. In the morning we’ve got an 8ft swell from the west with an 11-second period, and the energy is strong (1555), but the wind is howling at 19 mph, cross-off, so it’s clean but blown out and lumpy. That afternoon, forget it – 28 mph cross winds and rain showers, 10ft of messy west swell (2687). That’s kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing.

The weekend of the 5th and 6th is a write-off. Saturday has 12ft of WNW swell (1660) with a short 9-second period and strong cross winds – lumpy, horrible. Sunday drops to 4ft but it’s drizzly with light rain and a moderate cross-off breeze. The Cove is a reef break, so it’s exposed, but with the wind angles and the conditions, it’s not worth paddling out.

Now, the one true standout here is Saturday the 12th of September. That morning, the wind drops to absolutely glassy – calm, not a breath. We’ve got a 7ft swell from the NNW with an 11-second period, and the energy is moderate (1045). That’s a solid, clean, glassy setup for experienced surfers. The Cove (reef) will handle that swell direction beautifully, and with no wind, the waves will be clean and lined up. This is your best bet. Crowds are possible, but with that quality, you’ll want to be in the water early.

The following week trails off. Sunday the 13th has a clean 4ft from the north (317) with a slight cross-off breeze, but it’s small. Monday the 14th is tiny – 2ft (76). Tuesday the 15th has a glassy morning with a long-period 2ft west swell (205), but it’s barely breaking. Wednesday the 16th is a washout with cross-shore chop.

So, to sum it up: the first week is mostly wind-blown rubbish. Lock in Saturday the 12th of September for the best glassy conditions on a solid 7ft NNW swell. That’s the one to circle.

Rusty.

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