Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Castlepoint – The Gap. The water temp’s sitting at 53°F, which is a touch on the cool side, about 1°F below the norm for this time of year, so nothing wild, just a bit of a nudge to get the wetsuit sorted.

The first sniff of decent surf kicks off Monday afternoon, August 31st. It’s a clean 7 ft of swell from the SSW, but the period’s a middling 13 seconds, and the wind is a solid 35 km/h from the W. That’s fresh offshore, so the faces will be clean, but it’s a bit of a wrestling match getting out there. The combined energy is moderate at 1239. Honestly, it’s surfable, but it’s not the standout.

The real standout of this whole window is Tuesday morning, September 1st. The swell jumps to 15 ft from the SSW, with a period of 12 seconds, and the wind is a moderate 25 km/h from the WSW (cross-offshore). The combined energy is strong at 9250. Heads up, though – this is serious size. Over 8 ft, so this is strictly for experienced surfers only. Beginners, sit this one out. The direction is a touch off the optimum, but the power is undeniable. Tuesday afternoon drops a bit to 12 ft from the S, with a 13-second period, lighter wind, and clean conditions. Still a heavy wave, but the quality is there for the crew who know what they’re doing.

Wednesday morning, September 2nd, sees a drop to 6 ft from the S, but the period stretches out to a very long 17 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. The wind is 25 km/h from the WNW, offshore, and clean. Combined energy is 3358, strong. This will be a dream at The Gap – a point break setup, so that long period won’t close out straight. It’s a gem. Wednesday afternoon is still 8 ft from the S with a 15-second period, but the wind stays offshore. Quality, but not quite as crisp as the morning.

Then it fades. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th drop to tiny, weak conditions, and the energy number plummets into the double digits. There’s a big gap of nothing until Tuesday morning, September 8th. That morning, the swell picks back up to 6 ft from the S, with an 11-second period, and the wind turns glassy – 5 km/h from the west. That’s a rare, clean moment. Combined energy is 856, moderate. It’s a decent option for a paddle, but the crowds are often on at The Gap, so expect company.

The second week is quieter. There’s a pulse on Thursday the 10th with 8 ft from the S, but the wind is messy and cross-shore, so it’s lumpy. Another pulse on Friday the 11th, 12 ft from the S, but again, onshore wind and rain showers mess it up. It’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle session. The last decent look is Tuesday morning, September 15th – 5 ft from the SSW, a 14-second period, and light cross-offshore wind. The energy is 840, moderate. Not a stand-out, but a pleasant finisher.

Overall, the best on offer is that Tuesday morning, September 1st, for the big, powerful, clean swell – but only if you’ve got the skill. Wednesday morning, September 2nd, is a close second for the long, groundswell perfection. Get in before the lull hits.

Rusty.

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